The Value of Privacy in Preserving Individual Autonomy

Liberalism is based on individual autonomy, which preserves a private realm of thought and feeling that is inherently individual and requires no external justification. The general principle of privacy protects this realm. This necessary right allows us to conclude faith, sexuality, or loss without being forced to explain every decision or feeling. Privacy thus serves as a shield against scrutiny and grants us the privilege of remaining enigmatic in the eyes of others.

The principle of privacy safeguards our innermost thoughts and feelings and grants us control over how we are seen and by whom. We can share delicate or potentially embarrassing details with a specific few whom we trust and who, in turn, respect our confidentiality. Yet, our ability to dictate our narrative and control the knowledge others have about us has its restrictions. We can't always control the information others possess about us, nor how they interpret it. For example, a person convicted of treason should not be allowed to conceal their criminal past from future collaborators.

In the digital age, conversations around the importance and limitations of privacy are abundant. However, its political implications are often overlooked, a perspective I aim to emphasize here.

I. The Intersection of Privacy and Democracy

Privacy is a characteristic of a liberal society that values the individual. It distinguishes such communities from totalitarian and communitarian systems in which every thought or action has political implications and possible consequences. In these systems, privacy is synonymous with secrecy, and secrecy is considered treason.

In democratic societies, the right to privacy creates an imbalance between state openness and citizen secrecy. The government's activities must be disclosed, and its structure, policies, deliberations, and more must be made public to be held accountable. Confidential information must also be clearly labeled to avoid ambiguity. On the other hand, the people must maintain their enigmatic character and exercise their sovereignty by making decisions that do not require justification.

In countries where governments remain opaque, sovereignty shifts from the people to the government. We see this in China, where the government, while not inclined to control, assiduously intervenes in the lives of its citizens through an extensive social credit system. It judges citizens based on government-defined virtues and rewards or punishes them accordingly, prohibiting them from holding the government to account.

II. Is privacy becoming obsolete?

Privacy has evolved in Western Europe, influenced by religious diversity and the shift from village to city life. However, privacy is not a guaranteed human characteristic. Today our privacy is threatened by a burgeoning economy of surveillance capitalism that threatens to turn us into transparent beings subject to the control of society and politicians.

The effects of this loss of privacy are already visible. It makes us vulnerable to manipulation by entities that can analyze our data and identify our weaknesses. Political campaigns exploit this tactic to target voters with inaccurate and personalized information. For example, a political party may highlight a policy you support by directing you to a version of their website that reinforces your impression that the party agrees with your values.

We have been too lenient and allowed technology companies to erode our privacy, forgetting that knowledge gradually equals power. The more transparent we become, the less autonomous we are. As China's social credit system shows, we conform to social norms when we are exposed to judgment. Ironically, this system mirrors the social surveillance that characterized village life before the Industrial Revolution.

Our politicians have realized the potential of personalized manipulation, which has led to a shift in democratic dialogue toward a political marketplace that resembles deceptive marketing.

As we adapt and grow with societal evolution, our comprehension of privacy, a cornerstone of individual rights, must evolve. Unfortunately, the digital world's intrusion into our private spheres has been met with a slow response from us. We've allowed our personal information to be commercialized, and in the process, our autonomy has been steadily chipped away.

A society that values privacy and maintains its sanctity can form a robust defense against intrusive surveillance and predatory actors.

A critical part of this defense is fostering a widespread understanding of privacy, its importance, and the implications of its degradation. A well-informed citizenry is the most potent check against overreaching state machinery or predatory tech entities.

In pursuing technological advancement and global connectivity, we should maintain sight of the fundamental human right to privacy. It's time to reestablish control over our personal lives, reclaim our privacy rights, and resist the systematic dilution of our boundaries.

By acknowledging privacy's political significance, we can recalibrate societal norms and ensure that power remains vested in the people. Our society must protect our privacy and keep some information confidential to maintain our core values.

Art: midjourney.com

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