Glenn Greenwald gave a TED talk in Rio de Janeiro on why privacy matters and that those who argue that only those who are doing something need to wrong worry about privacy, and dismiss concerns about NSA spying because they have nothing to hide, are being hypocritical because when pushed they defend the right to keep things secret.
Meanwhile, a larger-than-lifestatue of Edward Snowden mysteriously appeared in a public park in New York City opposite a statue of Abraham Lincoln. It was placed there by the artist Jim Dessicino who admires what Snowden did and, by what is an extraordinary coincidence, Glenn Greenwald and Jeremy Scahill happened to be there when it was unloaded.
(Thanks to reader Norm)
The fact that people even have to argue for the right to privacy--even to other liberals--is very disturbing. It’s become trendy in some otherwise progressive circles to act like privacy is no big deal. The loss of it they say stops toxic secrecy and double lives. Everyone has to be their real self 24/7. The fact that so many see no human rights implications is terrifying.
One anti-privacy trope really make me mad.
--People don’t seem to care, since they give so much personal information away anyway, so what’s the big deal?--
Multiple problems with this. For one thing, not everyone puts their whole life of Facebook and YouTube. Some go to great lengths to protect their information. And even if they do share a lot, that’s no excuse to force them to involuntarily give you some of their personal information because they are very free and open other things. It should be up to them.
…that those who argue that only those who are doing something need to wrong worry about privacy….
I’ve said this before: everybody has something to hide. Especially those who think they have nothing to hide: these people are too naive to understand how the things they think are innocent or can be explained are actually viewed by other people with different standards, especially when the incidents are blown up, twisted, and taken out of context.