I think this comic is supposed to be based in the future.

Seems pretty relevant now as well. Just ask the brave environmental activists with RICO charges in Atlanta, for starters.

RIP Tortuguita

It depends on where you live. This absolutely is the present now in some countries. Like China you have to do this and more to protect your identity.

And even if your country isn’t quite there yet, they could still be collecting all that data and just not doing anything with it other than observing and collecting more data on you/ the group.

You say that like the protestors of the civil rights era and multiple wars don’t already have kids.

Alternatively: Hong Kong.