Why “I have nothing to hide” is a red herring

Chris Noxz

January 01, 2025

In the, so called, digital age characterized by surveillance and data commodification, the phrase “I have nothing to hide” has become a deceptive mantra, echoing through the corridors of complacency and willful ignorance. This notion, often repeated by those (seemingly) unbothered by the impertinent eyes of “Big Brother”, is nothing more than a red herring, which is distracting us from the intrinsic importance of privacy and the latent dangers of unchecked surveillance. I was recently inspired by the insights from The Hated One to write this article, hopefully dismantling the fallacy of “nothing to hide” through eight arguments or key points.

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First off, I would like to quote Edward Snowden:

Arguing that you don’t care about privacy because you have nothing to hide is no different than saying you don’t care about free speech because you have nothing to say.

I believe this can be seen as the foundation upon which the following arguments are built:

(1) A fundamental misunderstanding of privacy

Privacy is not a “cloak” for, so called, illicit activities. It is, however, a fundamental human right. When we dismiss privacy with “I have nothing to hide”, we reduce it to mere secrecy, ignoring the profound need for personal boundaries. Privacy is much more about autonomy and control over our own lives, ensuring that each individual can selectively reveal themselves to the world at their own will — not under the authority of others.

(2) Security for all

The digital age is said, even by governments, to demand robust security measures. Yet, the “nothing to hide” argument blinds us to this necessity. By neglecting privacy, we open the floodgates to identity theft, fraud, and personal exploitation. Privacy protects everyone, not just those with mere secrets, by ensuring that personal data remains secure from any prying eyes.

(3) Chilling effect

Surveillance and its indirect loss of privacy have been shown to produce self-censorship. The knowledge that one is being watched stifles creativity, silences dissent, and suppresses personal autonomy. The “nothing to hide” mindset ignores how surveillance very much can and does warp human behavior, turning societies into echo chambers of conformity.

(4) Collective responsibility

Privacy is not an individual pursuit; it is a societal shield. When one person disregards their own privacy, they inadvertently expose others — friends, family, coworkers — to potential breaches. As The Hated One points out in their video, your seemingly ordinary neighbor could be an activist or dissenter, someone who might be targeted for their beliefs or actions, whose privacy is paramount. Throughout history, many activists and dissenters have been silenced, persecuted, or even killed because their privacy was compromised by someone else. Protecting privacy must therefore be recognized as a collective duty.

(5) Potential for abuse

Today’s benevolent overseer can become tomorrow’s tyrant. The “nothing to hide” argument naively trusts those in power, ignoring how surveillance tools have historically been — and continue to be — weaponized against the populace today. From the secret police tactics of totalitarian regimes to the surveillance practices exposed in recent whistleblower revelations, history is full with instances where governments have turned tools of scrutiny into instruments of oppression. Don’t be fooled by their assurances of security and benevolence; such promises often mask the potential for abuse and control.

(6) Changing norms and laws

What is innocuous today may be incriminating tomorrow. As social norms and legal frameworks evolve, so too can the interpretation of our data. “Nothing to hide” rests on the fallacy of static morality, ignoring that our digital footprints may one day be used against us in unforeseen ways. History teaches us how, for example, records of personal identity and religious affiliation, once collected under the guise of governance, facilitated the identification, persecution, and genocide of a religious population during a dark chapter in Europe. In a troubling echo of the past, a colonial state born from the ashes of that very persecution, while claiming historical victimhood, now employs cutting-edge surveillance in a genocide against another group of people. This should be troublesome for many, in the context of the rise of fascism all over the world.

(7) False sense of security

Believing in “nothing to hide” is similar to leaving your front door wide open. It lures individuals into a false sense of security, oblivious to how their data can be exploited for profiling, discrimination, or manipulation. Privacy is not about hiding; it’s about protecting oneself from exploitation. Privacy should be seen as the default, not as a reaction to concealing wrongdoing, but as a proactive measure to protect personal freedom and autonomy.

(8) Slippery slope to surveillance

Complacency in the face of surveillance is a slow surrender of freedoms. The “nothing to hide” doctrine, you see, is a gateway to an Orwellian future, where privacy is a mere relic of the past.

By resisting this narrative, we stand against the normalization of pervasive surveillance. Reject the apathy that fuels authoritarian control. Recognize that safeguarding your own privacy is a collective responsibility. Declare privacy as a non-negotiable human right.

The Hated Ones video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JZ52_wr2wWU