Why privacy matters?

Magnus_Lind

Have you also heard people say "I got nothing to hide" or "only criminals need to stay anonymous online", when trying to introduce them to a privacy friendly alternative, to whatever mainstream service they use. Which is also notoriously known for selling their data?

I hear it a lot and disagree, but how can I convince people about the importance of privacy?

George_Hegland

Most people accept mass surveillance because of convenience. So in order to "convince" anyone you must first introduce them to the problem with mass surveillance. You can't come up with a solution to a problem people doesn't even know they have. Well you can, but they won't listen if you do.

mranderssen

George_Hegland Most people accept mass surveillance because of convenience. So in order to "convince" anyone you must first introduce them to the problem with mass surveillance. You can't come up with a solution to a problem people doesn't even know they have. Well you can, but they won't listen if you do.

Exactly, you can't solve a problem if you don't know what the problem is. Comparing Telegram and Messenger, most users will just see two different chat apps but choose Messenger because then they don't need to create "yet another account" to remember.

George_Hegland

It's sad really, had the same problem trying to convince a friend to abandon messenger. They simply don't understand the dangers with mass surveillance and probably never will. Not even if they got their identity stolen.

Kenneth_Crayton

You might wanna introduce them to privacy by default. If they got nothing to hide then why should they have people or cameras poking around in their personal stuff?

I know this sounds very much like the bathroom door argument (i.e if you have nothing to hide then why do you close the door) which seems to trigger most people. Like that triggered NPC meme.

Triggered people won't listen, even if you're right. I guess it's more about how you put it rather than the acual content.

Marco_Weiss

Kenneth_Crayton I know this sounds very much like the bathroom door argument (i.e if you have nothing to hide then why do you close the door) which seems to trigger most people. Like that triggered NPC meme.

Well, ask them why they close the door instead. You don't close the door because you're plotting to take down the government, you close the door because you want privacy when you shit.

Kenneth_Crayton

Marco_Weiss Well, ask them why they close the door instead. You don't close the door because you're plotting to take down the government, you close the door because you want privacy when you shit.

Haha 😆 Saw that argument too, in a Bitcoin documentary. It's brilliant.

Allan_Virtanen

My motto is:

I got nothing to hide, so why should the government have the right to view every detail of my personal life.

Knut_Engstrom

Nothing to hide...

It's funny tho how those government agencies who want to spy on everyone also are afraid of people spying on them. I guess "nothing to hide" only goes one way.

Allan_Virtanen

Knut_Engstrom Nothing to hide...

It's funny tho how those government agencies who want to spy on everyone also are afraid of people spying on them. I guess "nothing to hide" only goes one way.

Interesting observation, you're right 🤔

Orson_Deforest

Well, gotta say that I had to give up trying to convince someone of the importance of privacy, when the person essentially said they didn't need it. "I never say or do anything that would be a secret". Maybe privacy isn't meant for everyone, maybe there are people who enjoy being spied on. I could respect that if those people respect my choices regarding privacy.

Allan_Virtanen

Orson_Deforest Well, gotta say that I had to give up trying to convince someone of the importance of privacy, when the person essentially said they didn't need it. "I never say or do anything that would be a secret". Maybe privacy isn't meant for everyone, maybe there are people who enjoy being spied on. I could respect that if those people respect my choices regarding privacy.

Avoiding privacy because you got "nothing to hide", is like avoiding free speech because you got nothing to say.

AndrewLowrance

Allan_Virtanen Avoiding privacy because you got "nothing to hide", is like avoiding free speech because you got nothing to say.

It's happening right now, "So this is how democracy dies, with thunderous applause". :/