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> But on a practical level, that's just wildly unlikely to ever happen or ever have an impact on a normal person's life, so why stress about it? Even assuming
by digging 3y ago
> But on a practical level, that's just wildly unlikely to ever happen or ever have an impact on a normal person's life, so why stress about it?
Even assuming that's true for an ordinary person, which I don't think it is, let's consider what constitutes an ordinary person. Maybe it has no effect - if you never run for office. Or if you never participate in a political campaign. Or if you never challenge the political status quo with direct action. Or if you never run a business and express views that could be viewed as potentially threatening the status quo. Et cetera. In other words, it's fine if we're controlled as long as you're ok being controlled. But if you think, "I'd like things to be different," you're in danger, because the police and other government orgs know everything about you.
- titzer 3y agoDon't ever speak up, don't ever take a position, don't ever have a thought. But even that's not enough. Stuff can happen that's not under your control. Suppose you're accused of a crime because you fit a profile or were in the wrong place at the wrong time. Or you're actively framed for a crime because you fit a profile close enough. Or suppose you witness a government official being corrupt or breaking the law. Or suppose you don't take a bribe and those offering the bribe take revenge. Or a psycho develops an infatuation with you and stalks you. Or you piss off the wrong person in an online game and the 2030s version of being "SWAT"ed is getting ratted out to the wrongthink police by some snot-nosed teenager. The fact is that no one should hold this data about anyone. No one should have that kind of power. That's the bedrock of privacy.
- jterrys 3y agoNot just privacy, but egalitarianism and justice. A society is not fair nor just when its members hold asymmetric power over others.