Source: CounterPunch
by John W Whitehead & Nisha Whitehead
“What was once dismissed as a joke — ‘Santa is watching’ — has morphed into a chilling reality. Instead of elves, the watchers are data brokers, intelligence agencies, predictive algorithms, and fusion centers. Instead of a naughty-or-nice list, Americans are sorted into databases, risk profiles, and threat assessments — lists that never disappear. The shift is subtle but profound. Innocence is no longer presumed. Everyone is watched. Everyone is scored. Everyone is a potential suspect. This is the surveillance state in action.” (12/18/25)