Thread

Returning from vacation? The government can search your phone without a warrant

411 points · 378 comments · rbanffy

smalltorch · 1790858341 · focus · HN ↗
I don't like this. I think about a year ago when there was a big push for chat control in the EU, almost like an instinct, I started working on ways to be more soverign with my data.
I'm just a regular guy who really has nothing to hide, but that doesn't mean I need to be complacent with just allowing a future I don't like be propped up in front of my eyes.
What I've come to realize is there is really no safer place for your data and communications than just your own home. At the very least, I would like a judge to review the evidence of my alledged wrong doing before the government can raid my castle and get what they need.
Why do I, as a regular citizen feel the need to invoke and create my own protections on personal data and communications?
There's something deep inside me that feels the need to be prepared for this odd future where the government feels they have the right to access everything. It's deeply troubling on many fronts.
1. nekusar · 1790859250 · focus · HN ↗
  > I'm just a regular guy who really has nothing to hide
  Yeah, you do.
  Post your nudes.
  Post your full financial details.
  Post your whole medical history.
  Post every crime you might have committed, even as a juvenile.
  Post all your credit cards and bank account details.
  Hmmmm, so you ARE hiding those, eh? Quit framing this as "nothing to hide", because we ALL have things we hide... Not because they're illegal or anything, but because it protects us.
  1. smalltorch · 1790860280 · focus · HN ↗
    Sorry, but its not 'I have nothing to hide so who cares'...it's 'I have nothing to hide, and you also have absolutely no right to access my data and I will make that as hard as I possibly can.'
    This is different than arguing 'I have nothing to hide and also because of that you get free reign to everything'?
    But really, I don't take nudes cause why?, my financials are remarkably average, I have no medical history that I care about people knowing (broke my hand once), I've haven't broken any law's, I don't use credit cards...?
    That doesn't mean you are allowed to access my devices on whims, track my daily movements relentlessly.
    treyd · 1790861943 · focus · HN ↗
    So why does the government get to do all of those things? Especially when they've already demonstrated that they're not very good at using them to achieve the stated goal of improving security.
  2. swader999 · 1790863405 · focus · HN ↗
    Exactly and if they can't keep FBI data locked down how are they going to keep what they harvest from the plebes. You really want your insurer, landlord, employer, bank knowing all this?
  3. deltoidmaximus · 1790872838 · focus · HN ↗
    We live in a world where McDonald's is using AI to dynamically price hamburgers. Every piece of information about your life is something you might want to hide just to avoid being screwed over harder financially than you otherwise would.
    You medical history will be used to avoid hiring you to keep health insurance costs down, even if it's illegal. Your gambling or alcohol addiction will be used to target you with for gambling or alcohol advertisements even if they made that illegal. Your financial status will be used to mark up prices of things you need to buy, like how airlines used to show higher prices when you connected with an iPhone.

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