3 ms·
> Why should I be able to control what someone else knows about me? The right to privacy is: - complete sovereignty over oneself, including data about oneself
by specialist 3y ago
> Why should I be able to control what someone else knows about me?
The right to privacy is:
- complete sovereignty over oneself, including data about oneself
- control over public knowledge about oneself
In other words: I am my data, my data is me. I own myself.
To deny my fundamental right to privacy is to deny my personhood, to deny my membership in a society of equals.
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It's corny, but I sometimes liken privacy to the "true name" plot device. In fantasy, knowing a person's "true name" gives one power over them. In sci-fi, the "true name" would be something like a password or root private key.
- dcow 3y agoUsually the responsibility falls on the individual to not reveal their true name, though. Once known no-one gets to litigate knowledge of it. Usually one must change their identity so much that their true name changes as well, or forever be vulnerable. Everyone does have a right to privacy, to not be tracked and surveilled, what’s being discussed here is an extension of that that argues it’s unethical to retain any data about anybody period, even with their consent. I’m having a hard time making that much of a leap.
- specialist 3y agoWhy would any one retain surveillance of me? Because it has value. And if it has value, then I want my cut. Pay me or erase it.