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[return to "‘I've got nothing to hide’ and other misunderstandings of privacy (2007)"]
1. tromp+oz[view] [source] 2023-08-13 21:40:45
>>_____k+(OP)
Here's the first listed criticism of the saying on its Wikipedia page [1], by none other than Edward Snowden:

> Arguing that you don't care about the right to privacy because you have nothing to hide is no different than saying you don't care about free speech because you have nothing to say.

[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nothing_to_hide_argument

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2. the_le+iD[view] [source] 2023-08-13 22:10:15
>>tromp+oz
To elaborate: "nothing to hide" ignores the benefits to society that others, who do have something to hide, bring. Whistleblowers, various lawyers, activists, investigative journalists, labor organizers, etc.

Even if you have nothing to hide, you'll benefit immensely when, e.g., people with something to hide reveal your leaders are trying to goad you into a war under false pretenses.

To say nothing of how much the perspective changes if you live in a place like Russia or China. Historically, times and places where a good, honest person could bare their life to the government were few. How sure are you this period of relative beneficence of our governments towards its citizens will last, that you dare throw away yours and your children's freedom on the bet your future masters won't mean you harm?

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