Part 8/12:
The discussion shifts to historical government surveillance efforts, notably the early 1990s initiatives such as the Total Information Awareness program. Led by figures like John Poindexter—famous for his involvement in Iran-Contra—this project aimed to create a comprehensive database monitoring all Americans’ communications, exemplified by a logo featuring a pyramid with an all-seeing eye and Latin words meaning "knowledge is power."
Despite its ambitious scope and a flashy flowchart demonstrating the plan’s complexity—complete with data silos, biometric identification, and security layers—public and governmental pushback effectively shut it down.