this post was submitted on 03 May 2025
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Privacy

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A place to discuss privacy and freedom in the digital world.

Privacy has become a very important issue in modern society, with companies and governments constantly abusing their power, more and more people are waking up to the importance of digital privacy.

In this community everyone is welcome to post links and discuss topics related to privacy.

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This is an open question on how to get the masses to care...

Unfortunately, if other people don't protect their privacy it affects those who do, because we're all connected (e.g. other family members, friends). So it presents a problem of how do you get people who don't care, to care?

I started the Rebel Tech Alliance nonprofit to try to help with this, but we're still really struggling to convert people who have never thought about this.

(BTW you might need to refresh our website a few times to get it to load - no idea why... It does have an SSL cert!)

So I hope we can have a useful discussion here - privacy is a team sport, how do we get more people to play?

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[–] [email protected] 10 points 2 days ago (2 children)

People want convinience. You'll never get people to do it, unless it personally affects them. Realisticly, you can convert a few.

But most importantly. It shouldnt be that hard to have privacy. THATS the problem. People shouldnt need to do alot of things to get it.

Do something about the problem (political, legally change privacy laws) instead of every single person.

But I know that can be near impossible depending of where you live.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 2 days ago (3 children)

Do something about the problem (political, legally change privacy laws) instead of every single person.

Anyone expecting the daddy state to help them here is out right delulu.

Privacy is just one battle ground of the class war. Once we lose here, it is a wrap. We will exist in a fish bowl under ruling class with limited if any accountability.

It seems most people are fine with it as of now. The longer critical mass keeps these cavalier attitudes about their personal freedom, the more likely we are all gonna get cooked.

At some point, we will hit a point of no return.

I guess some people are fine to be enslaved into a cycle of wage "labor" and consumption without any agency and autonomy.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 day ago

Shoshana Zuboff says that privacy is already, effectively, dead. Or at least on life support. And there is no way we can reform the tech giants and surveillance capitalism. She says the only way out is around - to boycott them and use alternatives. That's what inspired my site.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 day ago

Then it's a wrap already we have lost.

[–] [email protected] 0 points 2 days ago (1 children)

This is where it depends on country.

EU is making better privacy laws, others are making worse. (yes, I know about the encryption bill in the EU, that has never been voted through. I also know about all the privacy laws that actually work here)

[–] [email protected] 2 points 2 days ago

How much privacy does EU law even provide though.

Faceberg transfered whatapps data into us despite it being condition for the buy out deal. Minor fine.

Another fine recently again sun 1b...

So the data is bring traded and exploited. I like that EU is trying to do a thing lol but let's be real... It ain't shite in grand scheme of things.

Take care of your own privacy or somebody is gonna do it for you. The "law" ain't gonna do that, that's for fucking sure

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 day ago (1 children)

oh yes, convenience.... a big problem when moving from the alternatives.

And I have to acknowlege that I'm an unusual case - I would rather use a less-good service than give my data to a better one. I know most people don't think like that.

That's why the alternatives we recommend are usually the zero knowledge encrypted ones, and they need to have a good experience. But privacy by design is sadly not that widely adopted in products. It has been increasing though, but just very slowly.

And about your point to hit the problem when mass change can happen e.g. political, legal - that is more the domain of our friends at other orgs like EFF, noyb, The Citizens etc. But you're right, that is where change needs to happen. Not easy when the big tech firms lobby so hard and throw money at the problem.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 day ago

Yeah, they really do throw money around to keep control..

And I know it doesnt help to always say "we need political change" because it's also an easy escape to just say that.

Im also trying my best moving me and my friends to other platforms, and we shouldnt stop. Be the change.