Xprize founder Peter Diamandis states that individuals tend to act more positively when they are under observation.

      TL;DR: Xprize founder Peter Diamandis advocates for total surveillance, claiming it encourages better behavior in people, similar to Larry Ellison's views on a privacy-less future. In a recent post on X, Diamandis discusses "radical transparency" as an inevitable and beneficial concept, envisioning a world where “you can know anything, anytime, anywhere,” leaving no one to hide. His perspective was influenced by a podcast with Will Marshall, CEO of Planet, who emphasized their capability to monitor the planet daily and highlighted the role of satellite imagery in tracking military activities in Ukraine prior to the 2022 invasion.

      This stance mirrors Oracle founder Larry Ellison’s remarks at a financial analyst event in September 2024, where he stated that constant recording would promote better behavior among citizens. He predicted that AI would analyze recordings from various sources, creating a surveillance system that oversees law enforcement at all times. While Diamandis presents this as a matter of transparency rather than control, the implications remain largely the same.

      The technology he promotes is already prevalent, with devices like Ring doorbells, Tesla cameras, and automated license-plate readers making it increasingly difficult to go unrecorded in urban areas. Meta's Ray-Ban smart glasses, which have sold millions, exemplify the widespread nature of this surveillance, with other companies like Apple and Google developing similar products.

      However, public response has not aligned with Diamandis’s expectations. Over 80 US cities have terminated or paused contracts with Flock Safety after discovering its data was accessed by law enforcement agencies. In Dayton, Ohio, officials covered Flock cameras after uncovering numerous searches aimed at immigration enforcement, which contradicted local policies.

      In February 2026, Amazon's Ring severed its partnership with Flock following backlash related to a controversial advertisement promoting its “Search Party” feature as a means for locating lost pets, which critics labeled as a method for mass surveillance. Meta's contract with Sama was also ended after reports surfaced that Kenyan data workers reviewed sensitive footage from Ray-Ban users, leading to a class action lawsuit concerning privacy violations.

      Diamandis fails to acknowledge this backlash in his essay, which serves as a guide for entrepreneurs navigating a world without privacy. He suggests that the “best privacy strategy is integrity, living such that being observed costs you nothing,” without addressing who determines the standards of “good” or “honest” behavior in a context defined by surveillance built and regulated by a few corporations.

      While he concedes that “transparency is a tool, and tools don’t have ethics,” and that trust is only established when communication is bi-directional, he does not confront the fundamental issue at the heart of his argument: the power dynamics of "radical transparency" lie in the hands of a limited number of non-transparent companies. Biometric and facial recognition technologies are also becoming normalized at events like the 2026 World Cup, where attendees may face entry protocols that lack clarity regarding how long these surveillance systems will last post-event.

      Diamandis mentions he has been contemplating whether individuals behave well out of moral obligation or due to potential surveillance. His framing of this as an open question, rather than a significant critique of his position, indicates he has not fully engaged with this dilemma.