More importantly, why does Privacy matter?

 

Imagine:

 

You walk down the street, and you catch a conversation. 

 

Surprisingly, this conversation is about you:

 

Indeed, a person you absolutely don't know starts revealing your personal information to a friend. What I mean by personal information is the real stuff: your name, your address, your phone number, your family composition, your social security number, your passwords, your bank account number, your medical information, your genetic and biometric data, your geolocation data, your grades back at school, your current and past employers, what did you browse last night on the internet...

 

What would your reaction be?

 

You would be shocked. How can this unknown person possibly know so many things about you? Yet, you never talked to or shared any information with him!

 

Well, that's why Privacy matters. We don't want our personal information to be stolen, and we don't want our personal information to be shared with anyone if we don't give authorization. Because if it's not the case, then there's no more freedom. I can't anymore freely choose the circumstances and the degree to which I will expose my attitudes, behavior, and personality to others. As a result, my individual's independence, dignity, and integrity as a human being are in jeopardy.