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Why is online privacy so important? (sh.itjust.works)

submitted 4 weeks ago* (last edited 4 weeks ago) by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

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Firstly, I'm not against privacy or anything, just ignorant. I do try to stay pretty private despite that.

I wanted to know what type of info (Corporations? Governments? Websites??) Typically get from you and how they use it and how that affects me.

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[–] [email protected] 15 points 3 weeks ago

Privacy is important because it gives you control over your life; details, info, thoughts, emotions...

I recently met a guy out of town at a trade show. We were both in the same show, grabbing some snacks, and I complimented his hat. We started talking, a little this, a little that. Eventually we parted ways. On the outro we introduced ourselves by first name only, more as a BTW side note because we might run into each other again. Why am I telling this story?

Because I forgot his name almost instantly and really only remember his hat. I know nothing about the guy. He knows nothing about me. But wouldn't it be weird if I didn't just remember his first name, but I knew his last name too? Where he lived, worked, shopped for groceries, sexual orientation, he last time he ordered pizza and what toppings were on it, how he voted last election, etc... If I knew all that about him, I could have a much more in depth conversation with him. And even if I had no mal intent and simply wanted to give him better experiences in life...that's not my decision to make. He didn't ask for that. And it's freaking weird.

But that's what has been made normal in our lives. Privacy helps keep your life...well, private.

Then the rabbit hole goes deep on nefarious uses. And it's not "its possible" to do this, but rather "it's being done" (with absolutely no doubt or argument).