[ben509]

The problem with privacy is that there's no general consensus on what "privacy" entails. People bloviate about it being a "human right", or even a "fundamental" human right, but in reality, what we probably want is "not to be judged unfairly" and privacy is one possible means to that end.

You can't have a "right" to have other people not think about you.

For instance, no one would care about medical privacy if employers and insurance companies didn't take actions on medical conditions.

You can see this nicely illustrated in medical talk radio shows. People will call into these things and go on about all the puss and lesions and other disgusting things they have, because that's considered acceptable in that context. But normally people would be mortified if that information got out.

[EliRivers]

For instance, no one would care about medical privacy if employers and insurance companies didn't take actions on medical conditions.

I do, and so do many other people. It's very common, even in situations where employers and insurance companies aren't a consideration, for people to keep medical issues to themselves. It's common for people to present a more healthy version of themself to the world, even if asked.

People will call into these things and go on about all the puss and lesions and other disgusting things they have, because that's considered acceptable in that context. But normally people would be mortified if that information got out.

That sounds like selection bias. What proportion of the population wouldn't phone in?