"they seem to think breaking encryption is a front for data brokers"
It's kind of true. The CRC operates out of the same building as a data broker. It's not hard to imagine this is to safetywash their reputation. That collecting non-consensual data sets on people is really for "the children".
One of the shills I've seen a few times just so happens to come from there.
Also, Ashton just so happens to be a large investor in "AI", and just so happens to be trying to pitch AI as a magical solution for everything elsewhere.
He is also providing a "surveillance based service" to one of his own companies (OpenAI) to make them look more "socially responsible" (at a time when they're under increasing scrutiny for unrelated reasons).
Clearview is also kind of a thing, and some of these "think of the children" people were also supporting that.
Clearview is a data broker which creates non-consensual data sets of people. They've also allowed their services to be used for non law enforcement purposes (as if there wasn't enough room for over-reach there).
Even when it's not all directly data broker related, they're still selling the idea of surveillance actually being a "good thing".
If I were to give someone the benefit of the doubt (although, circumstances push me away from that), I would caution someone away from Maslow's Hammer.
There is a saying that when all you have a hammer, everything looks like a nail.
Whether it's a "ban", a "regulation", or "surveillance", these are pretty blunt instruments, and not necessarily useful / good.
