I have neither time, resources nor know-how to like go all out on data privacy. But I try doing things like using Proton for Mail, browsing with DuckDuckGo or Ecosia, messaging on Signal instead of WhatsApp, etc.
But I’m having a hard time responding to people who say “why do you do that, it’s completely pointless since companies like Google have all of our data anyways unless we go all out, and nobody has time for all the effort that takes”.
Ask to see their bank account transactions.
If the data is out there then they should have no problem showing you.
The police have a pretty low hanging bar to getting banking information and the police often seem to ignore the laws for the privileges of using their badges as leverage over private industry and companies. And they use that banking access to fuck with people that don’t like them.
That shit is not “private.”
But banks/credit unions/companies would rather sell you twice than tell you that.
Not that I disagree with the general mindset but, this isn’t a valid comparison because its unequal. It’s misinterpreting what those people are saying. There is a difference between giving your landlord a spare key and hanging that spare key on the community bulletin board.
What people really mean when they say “it’s already out there” is that people with the skillset or job to obtain the data have the ability to, not that the everyday person has the ability to. It’s not unknown the information is already out there, but that doesn’t mean that you would want to just publicly disclose the info.
Or ask their phone and browse through all the photos.
Give me your debit card pin.
Okay, let me see your browser history.
And while I’m at it, can I sit in that corner over there and watch you have sex with your wife?
Oh are we getting a little uncomfortable now? May I take a dump while you shower?
Wait, wait! What do you mean you suddenly care about privacy?
Sounds fun! Wanna get together this weekend?
Ok, what is your social security number, email address with password, your date of birth, and if applicable, your mother’s maiden name.
It’s all out there right?
“Privacy is dead” only once you lose all legal rights to your own information. It may be “already out there”, but at least you still have some legal recourse for when your information is being used by a 3rd party, without your consent. (or at least it should)
No one should have the right to just clone your identity, or make AI images in your likeness, or even sell your confidential information to advertisers, against your wishes. If there aren’t laws already protecting your rights in that regard, where you live…there should be.
I ask them to unlock their phone for me to peruse. They shut up real quick
My approach:
I’m currently fighting my city over flock cameras and I’m hearing this a lot. More people should care about privacy.
Take their bathroom door away since everyone has the same wiggly bits anyway.
I don’t push it. It’s their life and if privacy isn’t a value to them nothing I say is going to change that. I might mention the amount of data collected but that’s generally public knowledge anyway. Some people just don’t care if a company that they use has the data.
“I value my privacy more than you, there is nothing more to it” is a more than adequate statement.
When they have doorbell cloud cameras and they’re this type, I ask if they’d put one in their shower. To match your topic, I’d ask them to live stream their next email/search/web session.
Then property ownership doesn’t matter, because the land is ‘all out there’ so anyone can go/live anywhere regardless of who owns the property, right?
I don’t use Google or Microsoft. Also it takes no effort, you’re lazy or you don’t care.
Any reduction in the flow of data to big tech is a win. Its a journey, not a race. Good on you for starting.
As for trying to convince people, it usually a waste of time unless they are truly interested.
My usual tactic is to inform them about how google can and does close accounts for vague terms of service violations.
Ah, homework.
The #1 method for persuading the kiddos.
