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Nazis were in favour of surveillance and they even coined the term "if you have nothing to hide, you have nothing to fear". But pressure for surveillance, with

Nazis were in favour of surveillance and they even coined the term "if you have nothing to hide, you have nothing to fear". But pressure for surveillance, withdrawal from ECHR, scapegoating "illegal" immigrants is just one part. Another is fascist policy when it comes to economy - drive out small and medium business and give preferential treatment to big corporations while reducing workers' rights to zero. I am pretty sure you would also find staunch Nazis in the 30s who were also against surveillance. This is mostly because they actually have something to hide.

SenAnder 3y ago
The Nazis were preceded by, and did not coin that term: https://skeptics.stackexchange.com/questions/30683/is-if-you-have-nothing-to-hide-you-have-nothing-to-fear-a-line-used-by-joseph https://skeptics.stackexchange.com/questions/30683/is-if-you... I don't know much about surveillance in Nazi Germany, but do know that East Germany and the Soviet Union were infamous for it. So if you define present-day political factions based on the actions of their near-century-old relatives (and ignore their present-day preferences), then surveillance is both far-right and far-left. Then look at how moderate parties simply go along with increasing surveillance, or how bipartisan PATRIOT act extensions are, and conclude that surveillance is also a centrist position. Attributing mass surveillance to any section of the 1-D political spectrum is misleading at best, deceptive at worst.
- varispeed 3y ago
  Fair enough. However, this phrase always come up when discussing authoritarian regimes and their mass surveillance to maintain control over population. It sort of encapsulates the state of mind that someone might have living under such a regime, where if they don't any attract attention, then they may have a chance to live in peace. That said, I have ventured on some far-left forums being curious about how that side of the political spectrum view those policies and I was quite surprised that they generally approve of them and think that if ever a far left government comes to power, they will be able to use those powers to the benefit of their agenda. But there is no denial that current Conservative government is far right leaning.

SenAnder 3y ago

The Nazis were preceded by, and did not coin that term: https://skeptics.stackexchange.com/questions/30683/is-if-you-have-nothing-to-hide-you-have-nothing-to-fear-a-line-used-by-joseph https://skeptics.stackexchange.com/questions/30683/is-if-you... I don't know much about surveillance in Nazi Germany, but do know that East Germany and the Soviet Union were infamous for it. So if you define present-day political factions based on the actions of their near-century-old relatives (and ignore their present-day preferences), then surveillance is both far-right and far-left. Then look at how moderate parties simply go along with increasing surveillance, or how bipartisan PATRIOT act extensions are, and conclude that surveillance is also a centrist position. Attributing mass surveillance to any section of the 1-D political spectrum is misleading at best, deceptive at worst.

varispeed 3y ago
Fair enough. However, this phrase always come up when discussing authoritarian regimes and their mass surveillance to maintain control over population. It sort of encapsulates the state of mind that someone might have living under such a regime, where if they don't any attract attention, then they may have a chance to live in peace. That said, I have ventured on some far-left forums being curious about how that side of the political spectrum view those policies and I was quite surprised that they generally approve of them and think that if ever a far left government comes to power, they will be able to use those powers to the benefit of their agenda. But there is no denial that current Conservative government is far right leaning.