Author Jonas writes about this concept throughout the article. Here is a synopsis of what we mean by “The Short Arm of Predictive Knowledge.”

The “short arm of predictive knowledge” refers to the limited foresight humans historically needed when acting in the world. In the absence of global technological platforms such as the Internet and social media, and of ubiquitous networking, traditional actions had small, local, and short-term effects. People only needed to predict immediate outcomes to act ethically. Long-range consequences were either unknowable or irrelevant.

However, modern technology breaks this pattern! Our actions now have global, long-term, and irreversible effects—so the old, short predictive horizon is no longer adequate for responsible decision-making.

Topic Question: How should we approach the development of cyber-policy and infrastructure given the “short arm” of predictive knowledge? Are we *really* thinking through the long-term consequences of modern technology?

Answering this question, I don’t really believe we’re thinking through the long-term consequences of modern technology as time goes on and technology continues to evolve in many unpredictable great ways, but I do believe we’re considering the thought at least in my opinion. Everyone nowadays when it comes to managing data and privacy, it can be recklessly used poorly, in the wrong ways, or just open to hackers that can compromise important information for example. I say we continue to be discerned with how people and us as well use technology as it continues to advance, and what ways we can avoid possible new threats, and etc.