In my opinion, this social cooling is the strongest argument in favour of privacy.
Imagine there's a camera in your living room. You don't know if it's turned on, whether anyone is watching, or why they would be. However, I guarantee that air guitar solos will be fewer and further between. You won't walk around naked, pick your nose or watch questionable content anymore. You might even avoid certain conversations. Even without known consequences, you will police your own behaviour, just in case.
Digital surveillance is a lot like that, but you know that someone is watching. You just don't know whether they are paying attention, or what their motives are.
Even worse, if the people who watch get greedy, if the government forces their hand, or if their security is breached, there's no telling how your data will be used. This sword will always dangle over your head.
that’s the concept of the panopticon, as described (but not originated) by foucault, who recognized that self-discipline is the most powerful force shaping our behaviors, especially as it actualizes our perceptions of external coercion into internalized self-discipline.
Imagine there's a camera in your living room. You don't know if it's turned on, whether anyone is watching, or why they would be. However, I guarantee that air guitar solos will be fewer and further between. You won't walk around naked, pick your nose or watch questionable content anymore. You might even avoid certain conversations. Even without known consequences, you will police your own behaviour, just in case.
Digital surveillance is a lot like that, but you know that someone is watching. You just don't know whether they are paying attention, or what their motives are.
Even worse, if the people who watch get greedy, if the government forces their hand, or if their security is breached, there's no telling how your data will be used. This sword will always dangle over your head.