Huge solar flare? Self-replicating nanobots that only eat electrical metals/alloys? The most realistic is corporations war against governments because authoritarianism hurts their bottom line.
Short answer, there is no way back without a collapse of civilization.
Hah! that's a good one. I was only considering positive ways out of this, but of course there is annihaliation like you point out.
That's a good point about the powerful interests turning against themselves--almost in a latestagecapitalism type of way. In this case I'm not sure it applies (since the big tech companies also love to collect massive databases, so they would if anything want to get in on this as well--but there definitely are some satisfying scenairos watching the giants fight (e.g. copyright law of music/recording/film industry against google/netflix, net neutrality of telecoms vs tech).
I was only considering positive ways out of this, but of course there is annihaliation like you point out.
You make a good point, I am being a pessimist. I'll try a couple optimist scenarios:
1) Assuming the system is here to stay: If it can't be destroyed, at least it can be neutralized. Much like certain parties have done to information on the internet, perhaps its possible to render their system unreliable with a signal-to-noise tactic. Send random DNA into 23andme under random names. Trick facial recognition with hair and makeup, iris-obstructing contacts, or IR glasses. Shun digital currency and credit cards. Bulk spam metadata on social media. And so on.
2) The true optimist scenario: We educate the entire voting population, counter divisive narratives, unite humanity under a banner of solidarity for the cause of a free and privacy respecting societies, and elect officials that will appoint trustworthy patriots dismantle the surveillance state while leaving intact the constitutions, sovereignty, and freedoms of the first world.
Is there anyway back from this? Once a database is created that collects information on all citizens--whether they are criminal or not--and it becomes legitamized, no state would willingly give up this power. It's incredibly concerning to know that not only is this happening but it is probably inevitable.