Nothing to hide, nothing to fear is a myth, a trojan horse wheeled out by those falling back on fear to justify their surveillance schemes, disproportionate databases and privacy invasions. Many dont understand why they should be concerned about surveillance if they have nothing to hide. Domestic surveillance plays a vital role in our national security by using advanced data mining systems to connect the dots to identify suspicious patterns. A person who favors this argument may state ive got nothing to hide and. I have nothing to hide is the wrong way to think about surveillance. If true, the maxim, sometimes attributed to nazi propagandist joseph goebbels, should apply as equally to the security services as to anyone else. In 1983 he founded the software engineering company praxis which soon became internationally recognised as a leader in the use of rigorous software engineering. If you have nothing to hide, you have nothing to fear nothing to hide, nothing to fear nthntf is a myth that is built on certain false assumptions, and these assumptions are never questioned when it is wheeled out as an argument to support whatever draconian surveillance measure is being pushed out in the face of. Dec 20, 2019 it amazes me how often i hear from people, i have nothing to hide. Later on, in 20, edward snowden revealed that the nsa was engaging in extensive surveillance far beyond its legal authority. Visit wnprs page about the show and listen to the recording of the broadcast. If you have nothing to hide, you have nothing to fear. I have nothing to hide is killing the privacy argument tnw.
The prime minister has used the nothing to fear nothing to hide argument in support of handing beefed up surveillance powers to his deepstate masters. Even if you think you have nothing to hide, you may indeed have something to fear. I have nothing to hide is killing the privacy argument. When you had something to confess, you were afraid. If surveillance is indiscriminate, our communications are being. Nothing to hide, nothing to fear is a myth, a fallacy, a trojan horse wheeled out by those who cant justify their surveillance schemes, databases and privacy invasions. If you agree with this statement, you should consider watching the documentary nothing to hide. In this essay, solove critiques the nothing to hide argument and exposes its faulty underpinnings. I have nothing to hide, so why should i care about privacy.
Sometimes we are scared of something so we do hide it from our parents like for e. The old cliche is often mocked though basically true. Opinion you should be freaking out about privacy the. The submissive posture of i have nothing to hide and therefore nothing to fear is a popular resort for those avoidant of critical thought perhaps due to their subjection to a surveillance system so powerful, so omniscient, so secret, and so unknowingly invading their world, that it had only been encountered, until now, as a fearful. At first blush, this argument might seem sound after all, if the government is merely conducting antiterrorism surveillance, nonterrorists shouldn. Our previous post explained that the nothing to hide, nothing to fear argument is based on a narrow view of privacy that assumes it is primarily about concealing our wrongs.
Our previous post explained that the nothing to hide, nothing to fear argument is based on a narrow view of privacy that assumes it is primarily about concealing our wrongs the argument says we shouldnt be overly concerned about government surveillance programs, because the potential benefits of thwarting terrorist attacks far outweigh any minor sacrifices involving our privacy. Nothing to hide, a documentary about mass surveillance. Apr 30, 2020 business is booming for their subscriptionbased software, miller said. The nothing to hide argument states that government surveillance programs do not threaten privacy unless they uncover illegal activities, and that if they do. I heard it a thousand times in the convent school church confessional. Back then, surveillance programs like carnivore software, echelon. Despite edward snowdens 20 revelations of a secret usuk mass electronic surveillance program, its almost every other week that i still come across otherwise intelligent minds insisting that the fear of online privacy invasions are futile because theyve either done nothing wrong or have. A significant percentage of the public supported the nsa surveillance, and the nothingtohide argument was trotted out again and again. The exhibition was featured in a discussion of surveillance on where we live on wnpr on tuesday, may 23. Surveillance has increasingly been part of the everyday experience of people throughout the world, whether it is through heightened. You may have nothing to hide but you still have something to fear. Jul 08, 20 a legal research professor explains to michael p. I agree if we have nothing to fear so we have nothing to hide. Is if you have nothing to hide, you have nothing to fear.
Some notes from the uks biggest digital rights conference, this year focussing on government surveillance cory. Opinion you should be freaking out about privacy the new. So the best option is share it with someone who you can trust. That mindset creates the incentive to be as compliant and inconspicuous as possible. Why is if you have nothing to hide, you have nothing to fear. The reasoning goes that if youve done nothing wrong, it doesnt matter if. Aug, 2012 the argument claims that as long as we citizens uphold the law, and have nothing to hide, then we have nothing to fear stevens, t. The argument claims that as long as we citizens uphold the law, and have nothing to hide, then we have nothing to fear stevens, t. The if you have nothing to fear, you have nothing to hide argument falls apart under examination, mostly because yes, you do. An independent documentary dealing with surveillance and its acceptance by the general public through the i have nothing to hide argument.
Solove takes apart the arguments and assumptions animating current surveillance efforts, and in a storytelling style, helps us appreciate the full range of their costs and benefits. Nothing to hide, a documentary about mass surveillance now. When the program was announced, the prime minister claimed it had nothing to do with mass surveillance. I think im a lawabiding citizen, so im not so worried about it. Nothing to hide, nothing to fear is a myth, a fallacy, a trojan horse wheeled out by those who cant justify their surveillance schemes, databases. Jul 23, 2014 the submissive posture of i have nothing to hide and therefore nothing to fear is a popular resort for those avoidant of critical thought perhaps due to their subjection to a surveillance system so powerful, so omniscient, so secret, and so unknowingly invading their world, that it had only been encountered, until now, as a fearful. If we are not scared of anything so we have nothing to hide.
Across the political rainbow, plenty believe that in terms of state surveillance on its citizens, if you have nothing to hide, you have nothing to fear. The nothing to hide argument is an argument often made by people who support government surveillance, especially when the loss of privacy involved is someone elses and not their own. Eerily, if you have nothing to hide, you have nothing to fear has even. In addition to attacking the nothingto hide argument, solove exposes the fallacies of. The nothing to hide argument states that government surveillance programs do not threaten privacy unless they uncover illegal activities, and that if they do uncover illegal activities, the person committing these activities does not have the right to keep them private a person who favors this argument may state ive got nothing to hide and therefore does not express opposition to. The nothing to hide argument and its variants are quite prevalent, and thus are worth addressing. Being told that nothing to hide means you have nothing to fear is reassuring. In the comments to yesterdays post about swedens dna register, some expressed the nothing to hide argument that efficiency of law enforcement should always be an overriding factor in any societybuilding, usually expressed as if you have nothing to hide, you have nothing to fear. Nothing to hide makes a powerful and compelling case for reaching a better balance between privacy and security and reveals why doing so is essential to protect our freedom and democracy. In the wake of 911, america has produced security technologiesfrom data mining at airports to. Do you agree with if you have nothing to fear you have. People with nothing to hide have additional reason to be concerned at the prospect of dragnet surveillance. Nothing to hide is arguably the identical twin of the equally fallacious appeal to motive, both of which are further related to the argumentum ad hominem while the argument itself remains logically incoherent. It amazes me how often i hear from people, i have nothing to hide.
The nothing to hide argument alleges that government surveillance programs. If that gets normalised into society, more erosions follow. In the 2000s we had echelon and carnivore, two covert programs used by. Those with nothing to hide have nothing to fear, says australian federal police assistant commissioner tim morris by lia timson updated february 22, 2015 4. Responding to nothing to hide, nothing to fear open rights group. It is a childish argument that insults intelligence and disregards the realities of building and operating technology systems, businesses, communities. The nothingtohide argument my essays 10th anniversary. Nothing to hide highlights the stakes in our national security agenda with serious insight and deep analysis. Eerily, if you have nothing to hide, you have nothing to fear has. Kaspersky backpedals on done nothing wrong, nothing to. Being able to hide stuff is important for a lot of basic social and technical functions, regardless of how much it matters to individuals. I dont understand why anyone cares about the whole nsa thing.
I wrote a piece about how surveillance makes us less safe as it is clear that. The nothing to hide argument states that government surveillance programs do not threaten privacy unless they uncover illegal activities, and that if they do uncover illegal activities, the person committing these activities does not have the right to keep them private. Hundreds of companies a week, three times their normal interest, are now asking about using the employee surveillance tools. Working from home surveillance software for your boss the. Every time we talk about mass surveillance, privacy or the security. Ive got nothing to hide so ive got nothing to fear from insert surveillance program here is a commonly heard retort to concerns about our diminishing ability to keep our personal information private. Is if you have nothing to hide, you have nothing to fear a. However, the snowden leaks and subsequent developments proved that the same infrastructure has made allencompassing surveillance possible posing new challenges for researchers when engaging with those they are obligated to protect.
Business is booming for their subscriptionbased software, miller said. Nov 09, 2005 the nothing to hide, nothing to fear dichotomy erodes that right by saying as a matter of course, you should be willing to reveal details about your everyday life which the law has no right to demand that you reveal. If you have nothing to hide you have nothing to fear the. With max thommes, vera lengsfeld, thomas drake, joel domenjoud. Surely even you, pg, can see why your question is ridiculous. G bullying, ghosts and sometime mistakes which are created by you. Jun 19, 2017 the exhibition was featured in a discussion of surveillance on where we live on wnpr on tuesday, may 23. Eerily, if you have nothing to hide, you have nothing to fear has even become a sort of mantra for the 1984esqe closedcircuit television monitoring of british citizens. Later on, in 20, edward snowden revealed that the nsa was engaging in.
Setting up his camera on a busy thoroughfare, he asked a number of passersby a series of increasingly. If youve got nothing to hide, youve got nothing to fear. However i said something similar like why he locks his doors and said so people wont steal stuff, and i said after well its the same with a computer. I remember it to be a standard expression used by priests during confession. Dec 02, 2014 the prime minister has used the nothing to fear nothing to hide argument in support of handing beefed up surveillance powers to his deepstate masters. The refrain nothing to hide should not be a license for sweeping government surveillance. Jun 09, 20 i dont understand why anyone cares about the whole nsa thing. A significant percentage of the public supported the nsa surveillance, and the nothing to hide argument was trotted out again and again. Why is if you have nothing to hide, you have nothing to. Responding to nothing to hide, nothing to fear every time we talk about mass surveillance, privacy or the security services powers we and our supporters find ourselves at the other end of that familiar phrase, if youve got nothing to hide, youve got nothing to fear. Its even less clear in the world of oblique surveillance, given that apologists will. It may indeed be correct that, as things now stand, you have nothing to fear if you have nothing to hide. Responding to nothing to hide, nothing to fear ruth coustick.
Nothing to hide is arguably the identical twin of the equally fallacious appeal to motive, both of which are further related to the argumentum ad hominem. In passing the investigatory powers act aka snoopers charter the uk now has the most extreme surveillance regime of any western democracy. Did you know that at the end of 2016 you lost your right to online privacy. Solove is john marshall harlan research professor of law, george washington university law school.
The nothing to hide, nothing to fear dichotomy erodes that right by saying as a matter of course, you should be willing to reveal details about your everyday life which the law has no right to demand that you reveal. Debunking the dangerous if you have nothing to hide, you. So being told that, nothing to hide, means you have nothing to fear is reassuring. The fallacy of you have nothing to fear if you have nothing to hide. The further technologies of government and corporate surveillance penetrate into peoples lives, the harder it is to control the content and distribution of information about oneself. The argument says we shouldnt be overly concerned about government surveillance programs, because the potential benefits of thwarting terrorist attacks far. Kaspersky backpedals on done nothing wrong, nothing to fear blather founder and internet passport fan now says privacy is precious by iain thomson in. Surveillance has increasingly been part of the everyday experience of people throughout the world, whether it is through heightened security practices that have emerged through anxiety. The united states is now leading europe and the rest of the world into a new age of surveillance. Often the argument for i have nothing to hide is well pull tour pants down, give me a dick pick, email, passwords. Kassner why we should think long and hard before subscribing to the nothing to hide defense of surveillance and datagathering.
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