All the drug dealers and gang members with whom I dealt had [a cell phone] long before any police officer I knew did.

Source: "A Vision of Crimes in the Future." TEDGlobal 2012. Jun. 2012. Conference Presentation. Additional Information: This quote is from global security futurist Marc Goodman's 2012 TED Talk. Goodman has worked in law enforcement and also studies the future of crime. This quote means that criminals have historically had access to the latest technology before law enforcement did. The implications of this in terms of today's high-tech world are disturbing to say the least, according to Goodman. Goodman goes on to say that today's criminals have a lot better technology than cell phones -- they are building their own mobile phone networks. Other examples Goodman gives of technology today's criminals and terrorists have access to include biochemical weapons, explosives, drone technology, cyber attack weapons, and more. Watch the full TED Talk here: Marc Goodman - A Vision of Crime in the Future

“A Vision of Crimes in the Future.” TEDGlobal 2012. Jun. 2012. Conference Presentation.