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“I have nothing to hide”: Why Privacy Matters
(threema.com)
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this post was submitted on 29 Oct 2025
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Privacy
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I explained this to my boss the other day about the cameras he picked up for his house. He was like, “I don’t have anything that I care about them collecting.” To which I mentioned the fact that they now know:
The list goes on. There are so many things people can find out about you when you don’t make it easy. Putting a 3rd party camera in your house, though? Now you’re just handing it over.
While I agree with the sentiment, let's just go down that list:
I 100% agree it is important to be aware of what data a given device/vulnerability has access to. It is ALSO important to figure out if that is actually any new data being available and to think about what orgs/agencies would be a concern.
Because maybe you DO care about the principle of it (I know I do). But "It is the principle of the matter" is just as ineffective an argument as "I have nothing to hide".
These are all things that would need to be individually tracked down or requested and in government-controlled databases. It’s not just the government that has that data now. It’s the camera manufacturer and their 800 partners. And it’s all in one place.
It’s data that individually may not be important to you specifically, but combined, that’s enough information to easily start manipulating you, whether it’s directly or through advertising.
It’s not just about what data is collected, but also who has access.
Almost all of that is just cell tower or internet traffic data combined with calling Fred at the DMV who has zero issues pulling records for money. Let alone all the megacorps that have varying levels of legitimate access to the DB themselves.
This is missing the point that in this example, you have to choose who you’re targeting, find someone at the DMV to bribe, get away with the bribe, and even then, this is limited info.
The difference here is that people are willingly handing their data to the parties that want it, bypassing our DMV buddy entirely.
It’s a case of perfect being the enemy of good. I’m not saying this information isn’t available. I’m saying we shouldn’t be in the habit of handing it out.
And I agree. But, like I said
I get your point, but the fact that the data is available elsewhere isn't really an argument for allowing another vector to collect the data (and also cross verify it).
There's more of an argument if there's not really another choice, say buying a new car that doesn't collect data isn't really an option since they all do it on some level. You either buy a car or not.
But cameras there are options that are not cloud based. Safemo is probably the best comparable product to other WiFi cameras, and then there's any NVR system. You can accomplish the same thing without much sacrifice or compromise.
Then there's the its "fine" today but tomorrow things change... Like Ring now feeding images to Flock and their surveillance/facial recognition system.
So no, its not quite okay that "they already have my data from other places so it doesn't matter"
Most of those things you mentioned are government databases, not public knowledge.
When people ask me 'are you hiding from the government' it's almost hilarious to me. I pay local taxes on property, I send the government tax forms every year, I vote prolifically in local and national elections. I have a calling and letter writing 'campaign' for my representatives to know just how much they are screwing up. I go to protests. If I were a person of interest, they'd come visit.
However, there is no requirement to overshare with anyone, and that's where I am. I am not 'hiding' from anyone. I'm just pretty stingy with my data. Now, I realize there are some who must hide from their government, but to date, that's not really in my threat model.
I have plenty of things to hide BUT nobody cares about my opinion, after signing up my life to Uncle Sam.
I wonder how they'd react if you started a profile on them of them of the plates of the car they drive, eating habits, personality, their address, and whatever other observations and public records you can find then posted them around the office for everyone to see.
It’s a company of less than 10. I’d just be fired.
True haha. Is funny though that lot of those "I have nothing to hide" types react when privacy is actually invaded and publicized as opposed to being theoretical. Even that they wear clothes and don't keep bathroom stalls wide open shows they want privacy.
How did your boss respond?
Like you would unfortunately expect. “I don’t care if they know that stuff.”