I know data privacy is important and I know that big corporations like Meta became powerful enough to even manipulate elections using our data.
But, when I talk to people in general, most seem to not worry because they “have nothing to hide”, and most are only worried about their passwords, banking apps and not much else.
So, why should people worry about data privacy even if they have “nothing to hide”?
tbf, that’s just a reasonable position that a person can have. Your data is an asset, just like your bank account. If you wish to spend it for something in exchange, then do so.
My only concern would be if they were unaware of the potential risks. But most people are aware of the risks and choose to take them anyway. That is simply a choice they are free to make, ultimately.
When I encounter this, which is pretty rare, to be honest I just say “do you think it is right that all of us should have to live the exact same way you do? Or do you think people should be allowed to decide what level of privacy they want?” That pretty much at least gets a tacit nod. You just make an appeal to being able to choose how you live your life.
The freedom we have now may not be here in the near future. Your political views, your opinions that you have voiced online could be used to oppress you then. Also, another simpler reason, I don’t want corporations to know my personal life just like how I don’t want my neighbor to know it either. It is called personal, not public.
“Take your pants off and walk outside”
Some people just don’t care and will never care. Everyone makes decisions about what to worry bout. For some it’s being vegan/vegetarian, others web privacy, some others won’t concern themselves with either.
Humans have a limited capacity to care about things, and despite our best efforts not everyone is going to care.
“So you don’t mind if I put a live Webcam in your shower?”
I would answer that like any normal person I have plenty of stuff to hide which I don’t consider any legitimate concern of others, and rightfully so.
And that if that person has no dignity, they may bend over as much as they want, but they are also spitting in others’ dish by making that bending over acceptable and common.
Say “don’t change the subject.”
It’s less that people have nothing to hide and more that you’re not really sacrificing any privacy
As the Cypherpunk Manifesto says:
Privacy is not secrecy. A private matter is something one doesn’t want the whole world to know, but a secret matter is something one doesn’t want anybody to know. Privacy is the power to selectively reveal oneself to the world.
… An anonymous transaction system is not a secret transaction system. An anonymous system empowers individuals to reveal their identity when desired and only when desired; this is the essence of privacy.
People can desire privacy for privacy’s sake. Wanting privacy doesn’t necessarily mean they’re criminals who need anonymity or secrecy to cover up illegal/immoral acts; it just means they’re human.
For an offline example, consider that you’re a cis girl in a women’s locker room. You know everyone knows you have certain body parts, and you have nothing to “hide” due to this, but you still don’t want to be stared at as you peel off your swimsuit.
“Unlock your phone and let me look though then”
Using a smartphone today is like buying a house and discovering that is full of cameras and microphones spying you. Would you accept thtat?
The worst part is when you notice some of the cameras you removed are back.
Ask to put a webcam in their bathroom. Privacy is a right and has nothing to do with having something to hide. That’s like saying freedom of speech is not needed because you don’t have anything smart to say.
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Edward Snowden remarked:
Arguing that you don’t care about the right to privacy because you have nothing to hide is no different than saying you don’t care about free speech because you have nothing to say.
There is a wikipedia article regarding this argument
This is a nice quote, however it misses the goal of the original post.
For example, I fall into the group of people that don’t care about their digital privacy, but I fully support anyone who decides to go invisible on the internet.
“How often do you and your wife fuck?”
Yeah, that’s a pretty strong line, plus you could keep going with ever more disturbing questions.
