I came across a few comments and topics here telling people who strongly advocate for privacy to be more “moderate”, and to “sound less crazy”. People who say that should be ignored and even banned if they persist. Time and time again privacy advocates and skeptics of the “if you don’t have anything to hide you shouldn’t worry” have been proven right, while the other side has been proven wrong. Remember when James Clapper lied in front of congress? I do. Remember when Snowden used to be glorified as long as it served the purpose of the media and some politicians? I do. How do people think of Snowden now? As a traitor, a rat, someone who should be executed.
Privacy is a universal human right, we all deserve to have some. Yet, being welcoming and open to people who are here to set obstacles for us at every step is not only counterproductive but foolish. They clearly don’t care about privacy, and they certainly don’t care if others lose it, so why should we welcome them here and embrace their drivel and gibberish with open arms? They are a detriment to our cause.
My two cents.
I think the hardest part is not to convince people that their individual privacy is important and needs to be protected, because at the moment it’s already not too hard to protect your own individual privacy. Much more important and much more complicated is it to convince people that everyone privacy is worth to be protected. At the moment most countries (even somewhat privacy-friendly ones) think it’s ok to spy on foreigners and then share these information with the foreigner’s government that isn’t allowed to spy on its own population. This is the most fucked up part of the current situation IMHO.