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It can be harder to surveil private conversations if everyone just used sign language. (sh.itjust.works)
submitted 9 months ago by to c/showerthoughts@lemmy.world
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I mean, you know how everyone carries a phone these days? If you use your voice, it could be potentially recorded.

So... we could just use sign language. Teach everyone sign language, use that whenever you wanna say something anti-government.

Its much easier to cover up cameras (or move out of sight) than to cover up microphones. And its unlikely people would want to leave their expensive phone in another room out of sight, so teaching everyone sign language seems like a straight-forward option.

Also, bonus: its very helpful for people with hearing problems if everyone knew sign language.

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[–] 3 points 9 months ago (1 child)

Only works for face to face communication, every long distance text will still be monitored. With enough video calls done solely using sign language, you'll also help tools to better decipher the messages.

As others pointed out, it's security through partial obscurity, no different from talking in esperanto or lojban.

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  • [–] [S] 1 point 9 months ago

    The biggest difference is line of sight communications can not be picked up by a microphone. No need to worry about smartphones, or talking too loud and neighbors hear it. Even in public, you can find a blind spot where CCTV doesn't see you, then use sign language, even a cop around the corner cannot know what you signed, but if you talked, they could hear your prescense. In many situations, it's much easier to control who can see you, vs controlling where your soundwaves go. Short of any reality-bending inventions, physics is physics, light always stops with a wall. This isn't just speaking a different language, this is a whole different approach to how your communicate.

    I mean, you know how when a covert ops military operation is depicted in media, the soldiers always use sign gestures when around enemy troops? It's like that. Harder to detect.

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