3 ms·

> I realize that the default attitude of many in tech is that most people don’t know or care about this, but I think they’re wrong. I agree, and I think the ac

by sli 9y ago

> I realize that the default attitude of many in tech is that most people don’t know or care about this, but I think they’re wrong. I agree, and I think the actual problem is that a majority of people don't know why they should care, or even know that they should in the first place. "I have nothing to hide" is something I hear far too common, after all.

fixermark 9y ago
It's actually a bit worse than just that, and something akin to tragedy of the commons. The people who actually do have nothing to hide (by which we mean, "the dirt on the individual is so pedestrian that even if it takes zero effort to find it, nobody wants it") stand to benefit from the features and interactions these tools enable. Those who do have something to hide become second-class citizens, forced to do things the slow, manual way that other people can automate away by trading out their privacy. We head into a techno-underclass dystopia if we let individuals decide to adopt privacy-compromising technologies, because those with worthless privacy can gain the benefits and will not refrain from doing so to the relative detriment of those who cannot. Personal opinion: "It's not my problem you can't participate fully in our society because X" is a very American opinion, which is why I think there is such culture clash between Silicon Valley corps and the EU.
- rdiddly 9y ago
  You just gave me another way of thinking about it, thanks. Although I also think the benefits of social media might be overstated.
godelski 9y ago
> "I have nothing to hide" is something I hear far too common, after all. That phrase always bugs me. Especially with its origin and connection to oppressive government regimes. How did a phrase used to illustrate tyranny and used by Nazis become a catchphrase for the public? https://english.stackexchange.com/questions/217196/origin-of-you-have-nothing-to-fear-if-you-have-nothing-to-hide https://english.stackexchange.com/questions/217196/origin-of...

by sli 9y ago

fixermark 9y ago

It's actually a bit worse than just that, and something akin to tragedy of the commons. The people who actually do have nothing to hide (by which we mean, "the dirt on the individual is so pedestrian that even if it takes zero effort to find it, nobody wants it") stand to benefit from the features and interactions these tools enable. Those who do have something to hide become second-class citizens, forced to do things the slow, manual way that other people can automate away by trading out their privacy. We head into a techno-underclass dystopia if we let individuals decide to adopt privacy-compromising technologies, because those with worthless privacy can gain the benefits and will not refrain from doing so to the relative detriment of those who cannot. Personal opinion: "It's not my problem you can't participate fully in our society because X" is a very American opinion, which is why I think there is such culture clash between Silicon Valley corps and the EU.

rdiddly 9y ago
You just gave me another way of thinking about it, thanks. Although I also think the benefits of social media might be overstated.

godelski 9y ago

> "I have nothing to hide" is something I hear far too common, after all. That phrase always bugs me. Especially with its origin and connection to oppressive government regimes. How did a phrase used to illustrate tyranny and used by Nazis become a catchphrase for the public? https://english.stackexchange.com/questions/217196/origin-of-you-have-nothing-to-fear-if-you-have-nothing-to-hide https://english.stackexchange.com/questions/217196/origin-of...