[lynx23]

To me, there is one big argument for privacy: You never know what your govewrnment will change into in the next few years. This basic argument for encryption is often raised in combination with countries which we already consider non-free. But, frankly, I have finally learned the true meaning of this message during COVID times. I would never have expected society deteriorating into this fear/hate driven, media induced witchhunt. Since that experience, I basically expect anything frm the government, which makes the argument for being able to encrypt communication even stronger for me.

[sbarre]

Yes, this is something a lot of people don't think about:

What is acceptable (even legal) today may not be tomorrow, or in X years (10, 15, or more)..

If we allow all our private conversations and messages to be permanently archived (and you know they will be, disk space is effectively infinite), who is to say that wouldn't be used against us in the future when laws, or even social standards, have drastically changed?

[t-writescode]

And we literally have examples, right now, of Facebook handing over private messages between people talking about abortion and then those were used to convict someone.

https://duckduckgo.com/?t=ffab&q=facebook+police+abortion

It's the first like 4 links right now

[throwaway914]

You can demonstrate this to folks with a very recent change in government: Abortion and LGBT rights.

How much do you want to bet states like Texas or Florida will use government surveillance to prosecute folks seeking medical care?

I give it a month before we hear about someone being charged with some form of conspiracy to leave the state before their poor kids are taken. "Exhibit A will show the defendants intent to move their children across state lines..."

[midoridensha]

If you think that's bad, just wait until Abbott/DeSantis-like politicians take over the White House and Congress.

[Toenex]

Absolutely. Another concern I have is the demonstrable incompetence of the UK government. If they have my data, which will only ever paint a partial picture of what I do, who knows what conclusions they may draw. I don't want to spend hours talking to nice policemen because my GPS data shows me regularly in the same park as some known terrorist just because they've never heard of a park run.

[lost_tourist]

Yep, this just gives them the tools when they go full fascist. For example the USA had a recent coup attempt, and that same person attempting the coup will be running again for president and there is a non-zero chance that he will win. He has openly stated that he wanted to "reform" the government and install only loyalists, that is the type of regime you don't want to have instant access to all communications.

[raxxorraxor]

You assume your current government to be benevolent. We see a lot of political prosecution from these benevolent governments even today.