     
 


л     ,      .  ,    .

 : .  : 99,91%.   .

   ,     .     ,     ,    .   .  - ?      ,  :   .   .





 

     








1

The room smelled of ozone and fear.

     .

Sergei Gordeyev sat on an iron chair without a back.

       .

The handcuffs dug into his wrists.

   .

Opposite  a table, on the table  a laptop.

  ,    .

On the screen a green icon blinked: "Identification complete".

    :  .



The room smelled of ozone and fear. Sergei Gordeyev sat on an iron chair without a back. The handcuffs dug into his wrists. Opposite  a table, on the table  a laptop. On the screen a green icon blinked: "Identification complete".



 Sergei Gordeyev, born 1987  read the robot-secretary in the voice of a weather announcer.

  , 1987  ,   -   .

 Your threat rating: RED.

   : .

Probability of committing a serious crime: 99.94%.

   : 99.94%.

Decision: immediate isolation.

:  .

 I haven't done anything!  shouted Sergei.

    !   .



 Sergei Gordeyev, born 1987  read the robot-secretary in the voice of a weather announcer.  Your threat rating: RED. Probability of committing a serious crime: 99.94%. Decision: immediate isolation.  I haven't done anything!  shouted Sergei.



He jerked.

 .

The chair scraped against the concrete floor.

    .

 You have the right to remain silent  continued the voice.

     ,   .

 The system does not make mistakes.

    .

Sergei looked at his hands.

    .

His hands trembled.

 .



He jerked. The chair scraped against the concrete floor.  You have the right to remain silent  continued the voice.  The system does not make mistakes. Sergei looked at his hands. His hands trembled.



He remembered how a year ago he installed the "Identifier" app on his phone 

for a discount at the supermarket.

 ,         

   .

He remembered how he signed the user agreement without reading it.

,    ,  .

He remembered how he laughed at the paranoids who refused the bracelets.

,    ,    .

 Please  he whispered.

 ,   .

 I have children.

   .



He remembered how a year ago he installed the "Identifier" app on his phone  for a discount at the supermarket. He remembered how he signed the user agreement without reading it. He remembered how he laughed at the paranoids who refused the bracelets.  Please  he whispered.  I have children.



The door opened.

 .

Two entered in gray uniforms.

    .

Without faces.

 .

Without names.

 .

Only numbers on their collars.

   .



The door opened. Two entered in gray uniforms. Without faces. Without names. Only numbers on their collars.



They lifted Sergei.

  .

He did not resist  he didn't know how.

     .

He was an accountant.

  .

He loved baking bread on weekends.

    .

Every Friday he bought his daughter ice cream with strawberry syrup.

       .



They lifted Sergei. He did not resist  he didn't know how. He was an accountant. He loved baking bread on weekends. Every Friday he bought his daughter ice cream with strawberry syrup.



 Can I at least call my wife?  asked he already in the corridor.

     ?      .

No one answered him.

   .

The door of the isolation cell closed with a soft, almost polite click.

    ,   .

There were 11,402 people like Sergei that month.

,  ,     11 402 .

The system considered them criminals.

   .



 Can I at least call my wife?  asked he already in the corridor. No one answered him. The door of the isolation cell closed with a soft, almost polite click. There were 11,402 people like Sergei that month. The system considered them criminals.



They did not commit a single crime.

     .

No one asked questions.

   .

Except one woman.

  .



They did not commit a single crime. No one asked questions. Except one woman. 







2

Wednesday, 7:12 AM.

, 7:12 .

Vera Sokolova woke up three minutes before the alarm.

       .

It was an old habit  to outsmart the mechanism she herself had created.

      ,    .

Vera did not like it when something decided for her.

  ,  -   .

Even the alarm clock.

 .



Wednesday, 7:12 AM. Vera Sokolova woke up three minutes before the alarm. It was an old habit  to outsmart the mechanism she herself had created. Vera did not like it when something decided for her. Even the alarm clock.



She sat up in bed, stretched.

   , .

Through the blinds filtered the milky light of early November.

      .

Somewhere behind the wall a neighbor was drilling  no, not drilling,

a drill was making noise, but Vera had already learned not to hear it.

-      ,  ,  ,

     .

On the nightstand the smart bracelet blinked.

   -.

"Good morning, Vera. Your rating: GREEN (0.02%). Good night? 7h 12m  a good indicator."

 , .  :  (0,02%).  ? 7 12   .



She sat up in bed, stretched. Through the blinds filtered the milky light of early November. Somewhere behind the wall a neighbor was drilling  no, not drilling, a drill was making noise, but Vera had already learned not to hear it. On the nightstand the smart bracelet blinked. "Good morning, Vera. Your rating: GREEN (0.02%). Good night? 7h 12m  a good indicator."



She smirked.

 .

Even the morning now began with the rating.

     .

Before, people wished each other good morning.

      .

Now they wished for a "green rating"  it was considered more sincere.

        .

Vera pressed the bracelet, opening the full statistics.

   ,   .



She smirked. Even the morning now began with the rating. Before, people wished each other good morning. Now they wished for a "green rating"  it was considered more sincere. Vera pressed the bracelet, opening the full statistics.



Physical activity: low (sedentary work)

 :  ( )

Psychological stability: normal

 :  

Violations: 0

: 0

Social connections: 14 contacts in the last 7 days (within normal limits)

 : 14    7  (  )

Forecast: stably green

:  



Physical activity: low (sedentary work) Psychological stability: normal Violations: 0 Social connections: 14 contacts in the last 7 days (within normal limits) Forecast: stably green



Recommendation: walk more.

:  .

 Thanks, mommy  muttered Vera and went to the bathroom.

 , ,       .

The mirror showed her a thirty-two-year-old woman without makeup, with dark circles under her eyes and a fatigue that even the bracelet could not hide.

      ,       ,     .

Vera washed her face, brushed her teeth, braided her hair.

 ,  ,  .

Everything mechanically.

 .



Recommendation: walk more.  Thanks, mommy  muttered Vera and went to the bathroom. The mirror showed her a thirty-two-year-old woman without makeup, with dark circles under her eyes and a fatigue that even the bracelet could not hide. Vera washed her face, brushed her teeth, braided her hair. Everything mechanically.



Her thoughts were far away.

  .

"Today I need to send the report for the 'Astra' project.

      .

Pick up the order from the marketplace. Buy buckwheat. Call mom."

   .  .  .

Nothing unusual.

 .

The same Wednesday as all the previous ones.

  ,    .



Her thoughts were far away. "Today I need to send the report for the 'Astra' project. Pick up the order from the marketplace. Buy buckwheat. Call mom." Nothing unusual. The same Wednesday as all the previous ones.



The kitchen smelled of coffee and yesterday's soup.

     .

Vera turned on the kettle (smart, connected to the "Identifier"  it automatically recorded her drinking pattern and transmitted the data to the common network).

   (,                ).

While the water was boiling, she opened the refrigerator.

  ,   .

Two eggs.

 .

A half-empty jar of tomato paste.

   .



The kitchen smelled of coffee and yesterday's soup. Vera turned on the kettle (smart, connected to the "Identifier"  it automatically recorded her drinking pattern and transmitted the data to the common network). While the water was boiling, she opened the refrigerator. Two eggs. A half-empty jar of tomato paste.



Moldy cheese.

 .

 One must live better  Vera said to the refrigerator.

   ,    .

The refrigerator did not answer.

  .

It was not smart at all  Vera had deliberately bought the cheapest model without internet.

             .

An island of analog freedom in the midst of a digital hell.

     .



Moldy cheese.  One must live better  Vera said to the refrigerator. The refrigerator did not answer. It was not smart at all  Vera had deliberately bought the cheapest model without internet. An island of analog freedom in the midst of a digital hell.



For breakfast  fried eggs and black bread.

      .

Vera ate standing up, looking out the window.

  ,   .

In the yard a mother was walking her child.

    .

The child was in smart pants  they tracked every step, every fall, every cry.

   -     ,  ,  .

The system knew more about the child than his mother did.

    ,   .



For breakfast  fried eggs and black bread. Vera ate standing up, looking out the window. In the yard a mother was walking her child. The child was in smart pants  they tracked every step, every fall, every cry. The system knew more about the child than his mother did.



"When I was little  thought Vera  parents just looked at me. That was enough."

   ,   ,      .   .

She threw the leftover food into the trash can and looked at the clock. 7:58.

         . 7:58.

Until the start of work  half an hour.

    .

There was no need to hurry.

   .

She worked from home.

   .



"When I was little  thought Vera  parents just looked at me. That was enough." She threw the leftover food into the trash can and looked at the clock. 7:58. Until the start of work  half an hour. There was no need to hurry. She worked from home.



At 8:30 Vera sat down at the computer.

 8:30    .

Two monitors.

 .

A mechanical keyboard (Vera hated touchscreens  too many mistakes).

  (      ).

A glass of water.

 .

A notebook and pen  for notes that should not go into the cloud.

     ,      .



At 8:30 Vera sat down at the computer. Two monitors. A mechanical keyboard (Vera hated touchscreens  too many mistakes). A glass of water. A notebook and pen  for notes that should not go into the cloud.



On the first monitor  a freelancer's desktop: email, messenger, task queue.

      : , ,  .

On the second  the personal profile in the "Identifier".

      .

Vera held her gaze on the profile longer than usual.

      .

Vera Sergeyevna Sokolova

  

Year of birth: 1998

 : 1998



On the first monitor  a freelancer's desktop: email, messenger, task queue. On the second  the personal profile in the "Identifier". Vera held her gaze on the profile longer than usual. Vera Sergeyevna Sokolova Year of birth: 1998



Rating: GREEN (0.02%)

:  (0,02%)

Category: insignificant threat

:  

Special marks: none

 : 

Special marks: none.

 : .

Vera knew that this was not true.

 ,   .



Rating: GREEN (0.02%) Category: insignificant threat Special marks: none Special marks: none. Vera knew that this was not true.



There were special marks.

  .

They were simply hidden.

  .

She remembered that day four years ago.

      .

The last day at the office of "KiberPro"  the company that won the tender to develop the core of the "Identifier".

      ,       .

Vera was one of twenty engineers gathered in a white room without windows.

     ,      .



There were special marks. They were simply hidden. She remembered that day four years ago. The last day at the office of "KiberPro"  the company that won the tender to develop the core of the "Identifier". Vera was one of twenty engineers gathered in a white room without windows.



"We are creating security"  said then Pavel Sergeyevich, their supervisor 

"We are creating a future without crime."

  ,     ,  . 

    .

Vera believed him.

  .

At first.

.

Then the arguments began.

  .

Vera asked: "But what if the algorithm makes a mistake?"

 :  ,   ?



"We are creating security"  said then Pavel Sergeyevich, their supervisor  "We are creating a future without crime." Vera believed him. At first. Then the arguments began. Vera asked: "But what if the algorithm makes a mistake?"



They answered her: "The probability of error is 0.03%.

Within the margin of statistical error."

 :    0,03%.

   .

She asked: "And what will happen to that 0.03%?"

 :      0,03%?.

Silence.

.

A month later she was fired.

   .

Officially  "for disclosing commercial secrets".

     .

Unofficially  for asking too many questions.

   ,     .



They answered her: "The probability of error is 0.03%. Within the margin of statistical error." She asked: "And what will happen to that 0.03%?" Silence. A month later she was fired. Officially  "for disclosing commercial secrets". Unofficially  for asking too many questions.



Vera blinked.

 .

The profile screen looked at her with a green eye.

      .

She closed the tab.

  .

Work went slowly.

  .

Vera was finalizing the interface for a children's clothing store 

a boring but stable task.

       

,   .



Vera blinked. The profile screen looked at her with a green eye. She closed the tab. Work went slowly. Vera was finalizing the interface for a children's clothing store  a boring but stable task.



For the third month in a row, she took everything they offered.

     ,  .

She needed money.

  .

After being fired from "KiberPro", her blacklist grew faster than her resume.

        ,  .

At 11:32 a message came from mom.

 11:32    .

MOM: Vera, do you remember you have a doctor's appointment today at 3:00 PM?

: ,          15:00?



For the third month in a row, she took everything they offered. She needed money. After being fired from "KiberPro", her blacklist grew faster than her resume. At 11:32 a message came from mom. MOM:Vera, do you remember you have a doctor's appointment today at 3:00 PM? 



VERA: Which doctor?

:  ?

MOM: Endocrinologist. I made an appointment for you two weeks ago.

You have that thyroid thing.

: .      .    .

VERA: Mom, I don't have a thyroid. That is, I don't have thyroid problems.

: ,    .      .

MOM: Everyone has problems, daughter. I made the appointment, don't refuse.

Paid, a good one. Vera, you are too thin.

:    , .  ,  .

, . ,   .

Vera wanted to answer that it was not the thyroid, but simply the lack of money for normal food.

  ,    ,       .



VERA: Which doctor? MOM: Endocrinologist. I made an appointment for you two weeks ago. You have that thyroid thing. VERA: Mom, I don't have a thyroid. That is, I don't have thyroid problems. MOM: Everyone has problems, daughter. I made the appointment, don't refuse. Paid, a good one. Vera, you are too thin. Vera wanted to answer that it was not the thyroid, but simply the lack of money for normal food.



But she did not.

  .

VERA: Okay, mom. I'll go.

: , . .

She added a reminder to the calendar: "Doctor. Don't forget to smile."

    : .   .

At 12:45  another message.

 12:45    .

This time from Vika, the only friend left from university days.

    ,  ,    .

VIKA: Today at 7:00 PM a meeting at "The Greenhouse".

There's a new barista, they say he makes coffee with cardamom. Are we going?

:   19:00   .

  , ,    . ?



But she did not. VERA: Okay, mom. I'll go. She added a reminder to the calendar: "Doctor. Don't forget to smile." At 12:45  another message. This time from Vika, the only friend left from university days. VIKA: Today at 7:00 PM a meeting at "The Greenhouse". There's a new barista, they say he makes coffee with cardamom. Are we going? 



VERA: I don't know. I have to submit the report tomorrow.

:  .   .

VIKA: Vera, you haven't gone out anywhere for a month.

Your social rating will drop if you continue like this.

: ,      .

    ,   .

VERA: I have a green rating, everything is fine.

:   ,   .

VIKA: Green doesn't mean alive. Come. Please.

:     . . .

Vera sighed.

 .

Vika was right  she almost never left the house.

         .



VERA: I don't know. I have to submit the report tomorrow. VIKA: Vera, you haven't gone out anywhere for a month. Your social rating will drop if you continue like this. VERA: I have a green rating, everything is fine. VIKA: Green doesn't mean alive. Come. Please. Vera sighed. Vika was right  she almost never left the house.



Not because she was afraid.

 ,  .

She just did not feel like it.

  .

The world outside the window had become too... transparent.

    ... .

Too observable.

 .

Every step was recorded.

  .

Every purchase was analyzed.

  .



Not because she was afraid. She just did not feel like it. The world outside the window had become too... transparent. Too observable. Every step was recorded. Every purchase was analyzed.



Every conversation was evaluated.

  .

"I am not a paranoid  thought Vera  I just know how it works from the inside."

  ,   .    ,    .

VERA: Okay. I'll come.

: . .

Vika sent an emoji  a heart.

    .

Vera returned to work.

   .



Every conversation was evaluated. "I am not a paranoid  thought Vera  I just know how it works from the inside." VERA: Okay. I'll come. Vika sent an emoji  a heart. Vera returned to work.



At 2:55 PM Vera got ready to go to the doctor.

 14:55    .

She put on jeans, a sweater, a jacket.

  , , .

The bracelet on her wrist gleamed dimly.

    .

On the clock  2:57 PM.

   14:57.

The "Identifier" already knew she was leaving: the geolocation turned on automatically when Vera opened the door.

  ,   :   ,    .



At 2:55 PM Vera got ready to go to the doctor. She put on jeans, a sweater, a jacket. The bracelet on her wrist gleamed dimly. On the clock  2:57 PM. The "Identifier" already knew she was leaving: the geolocation turned on automatically when Vera opened the door.



In the elevator she ran into a neighbor  an elderly woman with a wheeled cart.

            .

NEIGHBOR:  Hello, dear. I haven't seen you for a long time.

:  , .    .

VERA:  I work from home.

:   .

NEIGHBOR:  Ah, lucky. My daughter also used to work from home.

Then her rating dropped, she went to the office. She says it's more reliable.

:  , .      .

   ,    . ,  .

The elevator stopped.

 .



In the elevator she ran into a neighbor  an elderly woman with a wheeled cart. NEIGHBOR:  Hello, dear. I haven't seen you for a long time. VERA:  I work from home. NEIGHBOR:  Ah, lucky. My daughter also used to work from home. Then her rating dropped, she went to the office. She says it's more reliable. The elevator stopped.



Vera got out.

 .

Outside it was gray and damp.

     .

The November wind drove wet leaves along the asphalt.

      .

Few passersby  mainly pensioners and couriers.

       .

Everyone else sat at home or in offices, obediently transmitting data about themselves.

      ,     .

Vera put on headphones, turned on white noise.

  ,   .



Vera got out. Outside it was gray and damp. The November wind drove wet leaves along the asphalt. Few passersby  mainly pensioners and couriers. Everyone else sat at home or in offices, obediently transmitting data about themselves. Vera put on headphones, turned on white noise.



This was her way of disconnecting from the world  filling her head with a neutral sound, in which there were no words, no meaning, no surveillance.

           ,     ,   ,   .

White noise is not recorded by the "Identifier". Vera had checked.

    .  .

She walked to the clinic at a brisk pace.

     .

15 minutes  a familiar distance.

15    .

Past the supermarket, past the bus stop, past the playground where the swings swung by themselves  the wind played with them like an abandoned child.

 ,  ,   ,           ,   .

The clinic greeted her with the smell of bleach and medicines.

      .



This was her way of disconnecting from the world  filling her head with a neutral sound, in which there were no words, no meaning, no surveillance. White noise is not recorded by the "Identifier". Vera had checked. She walked to the clinic at a brisk pace. 15 minutes  a familiar distance. Past thesupermarket, past the bus stop, past the playground where the swings swung by themselves  the wind played with them like an abandoned child.The clinic greeted her with the smell of bleach and medicines.



 Vera Sokolova?  the doctor turned out to be a young woman with a badge

reading "Elena Vladimirovna, Endocrinologist."  Come in, take off your coat.

  ?       

 , .  , .

Vera took off her jacket, sat on the examination couch.

  ,   .

 What is bothering you?

  ?

 Nothing. Mom made the appointment.

 .  .

Elena Vladimirovna nodded understandingly.

   .



 Vera Sokolova?  the doctor turned out to be a young woman with a badge reading "Elena Vladimirovna, Endocrinologist."  Come in, take off your coat. Vera took off her jacket, sat on the examination couch.  What is bothering you?  Nothing. Mom made the appointment. Elena Vladimirovna nodded understandingly.



Most of her patients were like that  booked by their mothers.

         .

 Let's take a look. Please raise your sleeve.

  .  , .

The doctor took her wrist, checking her pulse.

    ,  .

Then she looked at the bracelet.

   .

 The "Identifier" shows you have elevated cortisol for three months.

Stress. Chronic. Do you get enough sleep?

          .

. .   ?



Most of her patients were like that  booked by their mothers.  Let's take a look. Please raise your sleeve. The doctor took her wrist, checking her pulse. Then she looked at the bracelet.  The "Identifier" shows you have elevated cortisol for three months. Stress. Chronic. Do you get enough sleep?



VERA:  Seven hours.

:   .

ELENA VLADIMIROVNA:  Not enough. For your age and activity  you need eight.

 :  .        .

She began moving some device over Vera's neck.

   -    .

 There is a slight hardening. We will do an ultrasound,

but in general  nothing critical.

I will prescribe vitamins and a mild sedative.

The data will go to the pharmacy automatically.

   .  ,      .

     .

    .



VERA:  Seven hours. ELENA VLADIMIROVNA:  Not enough. For your age and activity  you need eight. She began moving some device over Vera's neck.  There is a slight hardening. We will do an ultrasound, but in general  nothing critical. I will prescribe vitamins and a mild sedative. The data will go to the pharmacy automatically.



VERA:  And if I don't want them to go?

:      ,  ?

The doctor raised her eyes.

  .

For a second something flashed in them  surprise? understanding? fear?

     -  ? ? ?

 It is mandatory  she said dryly  By law.

  ,    .   .

Vera nodded.

 .



VERA:  And if I don't want them to go? The doctor raised her eyes. For a second something flashed in them  surprise? understanding? fear?  It is mandatory  she said dryly  By law. Vera nodded.



The doctor was typing something on the computer.

  -  .

On the screen flashed Vera's profile  a green icon, a photograph, a list of diagnoses.

       , ,  .

Everything as usual.

  .

 Here you are  Elena Vladimirovna handed her a prescription on paper.

Paper prescriptions were now given only to pensioners

and those with a "connection error."

 ,       .

       ,    .

 Thank you.

 .



The doctor was typing something on the computer. On the screen flashed Vera's profile  a green icon, a photograph, a list of diagnoses. Everything as usual.  Here you are  Elena Vladimirovna handed her a prescription on paper. Paper prescriptions were now given only to pensioners and those with a "connection error."  Thank you.



Vera stood up.

 .

 Vera Sergeyevna  the doctor called after her already in the doorway 

You are right. About not wanting the data to go. You are right.

  ,      . 

 .  ,   ,   .  .

Silence. Three seconds.

.  .

 Goodbye  said Vera and left.

  ,     .



Vera stood up.  Vera Sergeyevna  the doctor called after her already in the doorway  You are right. About not wanting the data to go. You are right. Silence. Three seconds. Goodbye  said Vera and left.



Outside, Vera took out her phone.

    .

The bracelet blinked.

 .

On the screen  a notification from the "Identifier":

     :

"Your visit to the endocrinologist is complete.

Recommendations: vitamin D, magnesium B6, sleep schedule.

Data added to your medical record."

    .

:  D,  6,  .

     



Outside, Vera took out her phone. The bracelet blinked. On the screen  a notification from the "Identifier": "Your visit to the endocrinologist is complete. Recommendations: vitamin D, magnesium B6, sleep schedule. Data added to your medical record."



Vera wanted to turn off the notification, but changed her mind.

   ,  .

She suddenly realized: the "Identifier" knew more about her than she herself did.

  :     ,   .

It knew about the cortisol.

  .

It knew about the sleep.

  .

It knew about visits she had not planned.

  ,    .

She remembered how five years ago she signed the user agreement.

 ,       .



Vera wanted to turn off the notification, but changed her mind. She suddenly realized: the "Identifier" knew more about her than she herself did. It knew about the cortisol. It knew about the sleep. It knew about visits she had not planned. She remembered how five years ago she signed the user agreement.



No one reads user agreements. It is a law of nature.

    .   .

But Vera read it.

  .

Back then, in her second year of university, she scrolled through all 247 pages of the document for the "Identifier. Basic Access" application.

,    ,    247  

  .  .

There was clause 14.3.2, hidden deep in the legal text:

   14.3.2,     :

"The User grants the Operator (KiberPro LLC) a non-exclusive right to collect, store, process and transfer to third parties any biometric, behavioral, medical, financial and geolocation data.

   ( )  

 , ,     

 , , ,    .

The transfer period is indefinite. Withdrawal of consent is impossible."

   .   .



No one reads user agreements. It is a law of nature. But Vera read it. Back then, in her second year of university, she scrolled through all 247 pages of the document for the "Identifier. Basic Access" application. There was clause 14.3.2, hidden deep in the legal text: "The User grants the Operator (KiberPro LLC) a non-exclusive right to collect, store, process and transfer to third parties any biometric, behavioral, medical, financial and geolocation data. The transfer period is indefinite. Withdrawal of consent is impossible." 



Vera thought then: "This is illegal."

  :  .

Then she thought: "But who will read clause 14.3.2?"

 :      14.3.2?

Then she thought: "It's probably a joke."




  .


   .

   ,     (https://www.litres.ru/pages/biblio_book/?art=74002001)  .

      Visa, MasterCard, Maestro,    ,   ,     ,  PayPal, WebMoney, ., QIWI ,       .


