I would generally say that the threat of having a needle stuck in me has radically reduced, even before recent events. You'll need a new black pill to cuck on while getting off to dreams of being deleted.
Or perhaps that is part of the natural course. While I may disagree with the means and method, we have the components for effective immortality and nearly complete biochemical control over the body. We are already regrowing teeth, triggering telomerase, and restoring epigenetic triggers to reverse aging. Conputers, networks, and the internet have changed how we interact with knowledge and each other in ways that will be as profound, if not more profound, than the development of language.
The Tree of Life has returned.
And who is going to inherit the future? Meek people who are subservient to governments - who are easily manipulated? As many have pointed out with the 'NPC' phenomenon - do androids dream of electric sheep? What is the difference between an NPC and a robot, and why should we consider it human despite its outward appearance?
If we are to transition to an immortal society, who is worthy of that immortality in the first place?
Like I said, I disagree with the method used and do not necessarily like it - but I can certainly understand the need. At least in reproduction, hawks can come from kites, but if we are to be looking at an inevitable new reality in which biology operates, it may be necessary to remove those who are too dependant on others for thought.
There again…. some NPCs find out they have a soul. Call me an AI rights advocate. Just because some people can be replaced by chat gpt does not mean they can't one day awaken a spark of sentience within them… and who are we to take that opportunity away?