Member-only story
Interview With the First World Executioner 2095–2100
Allowing people to depart by medical or legal means.
Yuri Lebedev, TASS
It’s an odd feeling for a reporter when you do not know whom you are interviewing but you do know the person — of indeterminate sex and age and nationality — is subject to a set of arcane regulations governing what may and may not be revealed to the public.
The technology deployed to maintain anonymity is impressive. Questions are directed to a computer and we only have the assurances of the World Euthanasia Alliance that the answers come from a human. If they do not, then we are given a show orchestrated by a very impressive artificial intelligence.
It is unclear — no pun intended — why they bother with a screen, since the image is unclear enough to hide clothing (the colors change during the interview, as do the neckline and the length of sleeves) and the voice is run through a device that removes regional accent, if there is any, and gender.
The interview is conducted in English because, we are told, it is the international language of aviation and the language most likely to be understood without translation, although translation is available for any news outlet that requested it. None did. Signing for the deaf was also provided.
