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You assume that dissent needs privacy to grow. In a free society, I don't see why that is necessary (or even desired.) The financial crisis was driven in part
by jwatte 12y ago
You assume that dissent needs privacy to grow. In a free society, I don't see why that is necessary (or even desired.)
The financial crisis was driven in part by "private" takes on "publicly available" investments - cheating that was enabled through strong privacy. This is a societal "bad."
- LordKano 12y agoDissidents need the ability to conduct private conversations to reduce the ability of the government to silence them. Take the example of the Black Panther Party marching into the California State Capitol with shotguns. Under the laws of the day, it was perfectly legal. There was no intent to break any law. Yet, had the authorities been able to determine that they were planning this, they would have been stopped. Private communication is essential to the planning of public discourse.
- LLWM 12y agoThe government silencing protest is the problem there, not a lack of privacy. Dissidents don't have that need if society and government allow free expression.
- AgentME 12y agoIf the government were perfect, then privacy might not be that much of an issue. Until then, privacy is often a useful stopgap measure.
- josho 12y agoSome governments today would view a protest like this as a possible terrorist action. For what it's worth this example more than any other, that I've heard, explains why privacy is important.
- LordKano 12y agoGovernment silencing protest is a problem, it is not THE problem. We should do whatever necessary to make it as difficult as possible for governments to silence protests. There is less need for dissidents if the society and government allow the free airing of grievances.