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The distinction you're trying to draw between the US, where privacy is supposedly protected by legal processes, and China, where the government spies on its cit

The distinction you're trying to draw between the US, where privacy is supposedly protected by legal processes, and China, where the government spies on its citizens, is not tenable after all the revelations about extensive government spying in the US. Snowden showed that the US government was secretly compelling all the major tech companies to hand over vast amounts of user data to the NSA. This is formally illegal, but it has now been going on for decades, and there's almost no way to challenge it.

imiric 2y ago
First of all, you brought up the comparison with the US. I prefer more focused conversations, so I'm not sure what we're really discussing here. My point is that personal freedoms such as the right of data ownership are more restricted in an autocratic state. This is just the way these governments operate, and citizens have no say in the matter. Say what you will about the US, it still hasn't reached that level of control over its population. I'm arguing against your point that the situation is the same in the US. It absolutely isn't. But please avoid whataboutisms in the future, since it only serves to derail the topic.
- DiogenesKynikos 2y ago
  After Snowden, talking about how citizens' or companies' data is protected from the US government is just not realistic. > that level of control over its population The difference between the US and China is not that data is protected from the government in one. If the US government wants your data, it will get it. The difference is in issues like censorship and habeas corpus. > whataboutisms When someone starts going on about how Chinese companies can be compelled to give data to the government, as if this is something particular to China, the fact that the US government can just as easily compel companies to hand over data is absolutely relevant.

imiric 2y ago

First of all, you brought up the comparison with the US. I prefer more focused conversations, so I'm not sure what we're really discussing here. My point is that personal freedoms such as the right of data ownership are more restricted in an autocratic state. This is just the way these governments operate, and citizens have no say in the matter. Say what you will about the US, it still hasn't reached that level of control over its population. I'm arguing against your point that the situation is the same in the US. It absolutely isn't. But please avoid whataboutisms in the future, since it only serves to derail the topic.

DiogenesKynikos 2y ago
After Snowden, talking about how citizens' or companies' data is protected from the US government is just not realistic. > that level of control over its population The difference between the US and China is not that data is protected from the government in one. If the US government wants your data, it will get it. The difference is in issues like censorship and habeas corpus. > whataboutisms When someone starts going on about how Chinese companies can be compelled to give data to the government, as if this is something particular to China, the fact that the US government can just as easily compel companies to hand over data is absolutely relevant.