Privacy Is Not About Hiding

The argument "I have nothing to hide" misunderstands privacy. Privacy is not about hiding wrongdoing. It is about maintaining autonomy — the right to control who knows what about you.

Surveillance changes behavior. When people know they are watched, they self-censor, conform, and avoid exploring ideas that might be judged. Mass surveillance chills free speech, political dissent, and personal experimentation. That cost lands on everyone, not only the people being tracked.