BT 2006 trials of Phorm

[James Firth]

Wendy M. Grossman wrote:
> Paul Vigay wrote:
> 
> > I must admit that I'm a bit more blunt and 'go for the shock factor'
> when
> > it comes to answering the "If you have nothing to hide...." question,
> > simply replying with, "try telling that to a holocaust survivor" - which
> > usually stops the conversation!
> 
> Yes, but that's what's wrong with it. You don't want to end the
> conversation entirely - Godwin's Law - with a scenario they think is
> unlikely to happen to *them*. You want to get across things that are
> real and person to their own lives.
> 

Which neatly sums up the paradox faced by campaigners against data
profiling.  The true crux of the problem is the nightmare Godwin/Nazi
scenario where instant access to a comprehensive profile of the majority of
citizens is open to misuse by a rogue government.

But of course the general public would arguably only believe this if the
Daily Mail told them to.  I personally think the majority of internet users
do really think "I've got nothing to hide" and genuinely believe a lot of
the data warehousing proposed by governments will help fight terrorism.  So
we try with lesser examples, medical records or the fact that your bank
statement shows you purchasing "a meal" at 3:30am at some seedy joint.

James Firth