> Purpose matters. The point about many of these privacy related issues is that purpose can change. Almost nobody is arguing that it's not a good goal to feel

> Purpose matters. The point about many of these privacy related issues is that purpose can change. Almost nobody is arguing that it's not a good goal to feel safe on the streets. But there can be an argument made that cameras don't actually increase safety (though they can increase the illusion of safety) and the more important point: Increased safety is only one purpose of many of these cameras. Even if it is the only one right now, all it takes is a shift in political climate, and suddenly they can be used for many other things without, and this is the important bit, changing anything about the cameras themselves. To take up your example of being feeling safe as a Chinese in China (but don't misunderstand me, this is exactly the same in any other country!) probably works because you are not interesting to the people controlling the cameras (and the other surveillance ). But once you aren't aligned with their interests anymore and you start making trouble, these cameras give your opponents tremendous power over you. Privacy doesn't matter if you are aligned with those in power. The power imbalance it perpetuates only starts mattering as you move away from the center of society.