A refresher on privacy
Jed | August 26, 2008I think it’s important now and then to remind ourselves how important some things are, especially things we might take for granted. I’ve become alarmed at the rate at which our rights to privacy are being eroded. So I’d just like to highlight two very interesting pieces on privacy.
The first is this article on Wired titled “The Eternal Value of Privacy” by Bruce Schneier (famous security technologist and author). I recommend reading the article, but here’s a crucial excerpt:
The most common retort against privacy advocates — by those in favor of ID checks, cameras, databases, data mining and other wholesale surveillance measures — is this line: “If you aren’t doing anything wrong, what do you have to hide?”
Some clever answers: “If I’m not doing anything wrong, then you have no cause to watch me.” “Because the government gets to define what’s wrong, and they keep changing the definition.” “Because you might do something wrong with my information.”
My problem with quips like these — as right as they are — is that they accept the premise that privacy is about hiding a wrong. It’s not. Privacy is an inherent human right, and a requirement for maintaining the human condition with dignity and respect.
The second thing I recommend is this amazingly interesting presentation by Mr. James Duane, a professor at Regent Law School and a former defense attorney. He explains in humorous detail why you should never agree to be interviewed by the police.
This ties right in with what else Bruce Schnier said in his article, namely that “Privacy protects us from abuses by those in power, even if we’re doing nothing wrong at the time of surveillance.” Call me paranoid now, but watch this video and I bet you’ll change your mind.
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