minus273Feb 5, 2023
Ola Bini

I have never really liked discussing whether you have something to hide, as an argument for or against security or privacy. First, it's irrelevant - everyone has these rights no matter what. But also, once you start talking about "hiding", you have already lost the discussion - because it's a word that is associated with negative connotations.

I think we should change the discourse. I don't have anything to hide. But I do have many things to protect. I have the right to protect my privacy. I have the right to protect my communication. I have the right to protect my work. I have the right to protect my friends and family.

#SomethingToProtect #Privacy

Feb 5, 2023 at 5:43pmWeb
Show threadRichardFeb 5, 2023
@ola Everybody's got something to hide except me and my monkey
Show threaddaniel s.Feb 5, 2023
@ola @timbray I used to run a Twitter account that curated tweets from people insisting they were okay with illegal NSA spying because they had nothing to hide https://twitter.com/_nothingtohide
Nothing To Hide (@_nothingtohide) / Twitter

These upstanding citizens have nothing to hide & neither should you. Created and maintained by @_selfagency.

Twitter
Show threadFiroozyeFeb 5, 2023
@ola Some things are meant for only your close friends and family. Some for your family alone. Some for your spouse and some details in your life are meant for you and for you alone.
Show threadRoryFeb 5, 2023

@ola this always happens. It's false to equate privacy with secrecy but those who wish to quash debate will always draw this false equivalency.

The crude analogy I sometimes use is that of the bathroom. There's no secret about what you're doing in there but you absolutely have the right to close the door and do it in private, without cameras or audio recordings.

Show threadRocksToReplicatorsFeb 5, 2023
@rory @ola This is the analogy I always use. Does your bathroom door have a lock? Does it have frosted windows? Yes, why, what are you trying to hide? #Privacy
Show threadJosh RiversFeb 5, 2023
@ola the sense of not having something to hide is a kind of privilege felt by those who were not traumatically bullied. Many of my friends know better than to live out loud because individuals, groups, and institutions have singled them out for abuse in the past.
Show threadMike JackminFeb 5, 2023

@ola

I think of it like 'no means no' - it's simply a statement of preference, rather than some sort of objective assertion which needs justification.

I don't always care if there is a conceivable threat or not - if I simply prefer that something remain private, well, I prefer it that way, and there it is. That's the full and honest explanation.

I'd expect others to feel the same, and to prefer that their choices be respected, too - even if their day job is to violate others.

Show threadEllieFeb 5, 2023
@ola I think "medical conditions" are a good counterpoint to this one. I'm sure most people can think of some that people dealing with them would prefer not to share, and unlike other things people might want to hide, can't as easily construct a strawman about how it's the person wanting privacy's fault.
Show threadantipode77Feb 5, 2023

@ola

I have the right to protect my public and private sphere.

Show threadsayrerFeb 5, 2023

@ola totally obvious. I don't know why people say these things you're objecting to.

Of course the whole point is that other people might not have your best interests at heart. You can learn this from an episode of "Law & Order".

Show threadcabp08Feb 5, 2023
@ola Puedes traducir al español también. Un abrazo desde España.
Show threadMatt Bauman Feb 6, 2023
@ola In my favorite exchange of this sort I brought up the hypothetical idea that the I-have-nothing-to-hide-arguer definitely would have something to hide if she were in the early stages of pregnancy. Guess what later became abundantly obvious that she happened to be hiding at that very moment…
Show threadNora ChanFeb 6, 2023
@ola @timbray This also applies in the Chinese context.
Show threadSteffen VoßFeb 6, 2023
@ola Yes, I keep things private, not because they can't be known, but because I can't control what others do with the information.
Privacy is the right to keep control over your own life. I grant a limited privilege to others, if they want to use personal information. But I always have the right to know, what the do with it, know, which information they have on me, correct and delete it.
What's the alternative to that?
Show threadPreston de Guise 🏳️‍🌈✍🏼Feb 6, 2023
@ola @daedalus My first reaction to this is that the governments that are most quick to make this claim are also the ones that shield so much of what they do behind official secrets acts.
Show threadOldBrushNewPaperFeb 6, 2023

@ola This right here:

"(E)veryone has these rights no matter what."

Show threadJesseFeb 6, 2023
@ola I think an important part is that Privacy is less about hiding and more about *Dignity*. I don't have a lockable door on my bathroom because I'm doing something secret.
Show threadBen 🏳️‍🌈Feb 6, 2023
@ola I questions anyones intentions that think they should have a right to whatever and use the argument "what have you got to hide"
Show threadKovarchiFeb 7, 2023

@ola if you have nothing to hide why do you wear clothes?

:)

Show threadJames KFeb 7, 2023
@ola that's a good way to think about it, "hide" almost concedes that that government has a right to know what you're doing at all times.
Show threadJoeChipFeb 8, 2023

@ola
"Privacy doesn't matter if you have nothing to hide. My life is an open book."

"Okay, great. Just give me a sec to write down the routing number from that check in your wallet."