Obama Quietly Signs Abusive Spy Bill He Once Vowed to Eliminate

[JReed]

43. Ah the "nothing to hide" argument

The problem with the nothing-to-hide argument is the underlying assumption that privacy is about hiding bad things. The nothing-to-hide argument stems from a faulty premise that privacy is about hiding a wrong. Surveillance, for example, can inhibit such lawful activities as free speech, free association, and other First Amendment rights essential for democracy.

The deeper problem with the nothing-to-hide argument is that it views privacy as a form of secrecy. In contrast, understanding privacy as a plurality of related issues demonstrates that the disclosure of bad things is just one among many difficulties caused by government security measures. Government information-gathering programs are problematic even if no information that people want to hide is uncovered.

If you can't even acknowledge where this is heading or see how it signifies a trend towards a totalitarian society then there is likely little anyone can say to encourage you to re-examine your assumptions.