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Privacy and the "Nothing To Hide" Argument
privacyprof writes "One of the most common responses of those unconcerned about government surveillance or privacy invasions is 'I've got nothing to hide.' According to the 'nothing to hide' argument, there is no threat to privacy unless the government uncovers unlawful activity, in which case a person has no legitimate justification to claim that it remain private. The 'nothing to hide' argument is quite prevalent. Is there a way to respond to this argument that would really register with people in the general public? In a short essay, 'I've Got Nothing to Hide' and Other Misunderstandings of Privacy, Professor Daniel Solove takes on the 'nothing to hide' argument and exposes its faulty underpinnings." At the base of the fallacy, as Bruce Schneier has noted, is the "faulty premise that privacy is about hiding a wrong."
The entire concept of privacy is based around concealing "wrongs"; that is to say, keeping from public view what would be embarrassing, damaging or otherwise socially unacceptable.
If this were not so, there would be no need for privacy.
The hard fact is, technology has already made the 20th-century concept of privacy obsolete; anyone who promotes it is clinging, Luddite-like, to an ancient ideal irrespective of reality and scientific advancement. When high-powered directional mics can discern from half a mile away conversations held inside unshielded brick buildings, is it your right to prohibit interception of your leaked signals?
Privacy is a responsibility... viewing it as a right only puts you at a disadvantage, reliant on the state to protect you against the inexorable tide of progress.
A salami.
"You'll get nothing, and you'll like it!"
I'm in the minority because I like the Bush administration, but I do have to say that Ashcroft pissed me off when they imprisoned Tommy Chong.
If this is all you have to be angry about with this administration, well.. I take it you don't read much.
God spoke to me.
Let's hope He uses a cuestick next time..
--- The American Way of Life is not a birthright. Hell, it's not even sustainable.
When the feds are realizing that they are a capable of tapping ALL of us and then decide that they want a new capability: The ability to change the conversations/communication in real time. Now, everybody can be guilty. All because they did not stop the violations in the first place. This is going to happen in the EXACT same fashion that hitler took control; a bit at a time.
I prefer the "u" in honour as it seems to be missing these days.
Lol, or you could have put it this way: 'the Jews' weren't ashamed of their greed and crimes against the Germans... sooo because of this blatent arrogance, they got more than they 'bargained' for...in the end.
This same brutal arrogance by the powers that be today (not suprisingly by yet still another 'Jewish Mafia').. will be their collapes-- once again.
Only this time, lessons ARE BEING LEARNED from the mistakes by the *LAST* leader of White people, ~~Adolf Hitler~~
-- Sometimes just a 'look' by you, will prevent the evil of another...
I will gladly loose all of life's battles.. in order to win the war..
It's good to see that no matter how little history US children learn in school, kids in the EU have it even worse.