Privacy Isn’t Just for Bad Actors

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pivx23 days agoPeakD3 min read

I don’t know about you, but I’ve heard people make statements like: “I don’t care if the government or big tech tracks me; I have nothing to hide.”

That’s a seductive argument because it feels virtuous. Those in support assume that privacy is a cloak used only by those with skeletons in their closets. But this perspective is a misunderstanding of what privacy actually is. Privacy isn’t about hiding bodies; it’s about protecting the space that makes you human.

If you think privacy is only for criminals, consider why you put curtains on your windows, passwords on your phone, or why you close the door when you go to the bathroom. You aren’t committing a crime in there. You are simply exercising your right to be yourself without an audience.

Data is Forever (And Context is Not)

The “nothing to hide” argument assumes that the people collecting your data today will always be “the good guys” and will always interpret your data fairly.

History shows us this is a dangerous gamble. A joke you made ten years ago, a medical search you performed in confidence, or a protest you attended can be stripped of context and used against you by a different regime, a future employer, or an insurance company looking for a reason to hike your premiums.

The Power Asymmetry

Privacy is fundamentally about the balance of power. When an entity (whether a government or a corporation) knows everything about you, but you know nothing about them, you are at a massive disadvantage.

This data isn’t just stored; it’s used to build a digital twin of you. This twin is used to predict your behaviour, influence your purchases, and even nudge your political leanings. Without privacy, you aren’t just a citizen or a customer; you are a predictable asset to be managed.

Imagine trying to write a journal or brainstorm a radical new business idea while someone stands over your shoulder, taking notes. You wouldn’t do it. You would self-censor.

Privacy is the “lab” of the human mind. It is where we experiment with unpopular ideas, explore our identities, and grow. And I feel that a society without privacy is one that stops innovating and starts performing.

Privacy is a Collective Good

Privacy is often framed as an individual right, but it’s actually a social necessity. Much like herd immunity, the more people who demand and use privacy tools, the safer the most vulnerable members of society become. When you opt out of privacy because you feel secure, you make it harder for those who aren’t safe to protect themselves without looking suspicious.

Privacy is the boundary where the world ends, and you begin. It is the right to define yourself to the world on your own terms, rather than being represented by a set of data points harvested without your conscious consent.

In the digital age, saying you don’t care about privacy because you have nothing to hide is like saying you don’t care about free speech because you have nothing to say. Both are the bedrock of a free and functioning society.

Written by Clement Saudu