[josho]

I like your example, but it is also why a lot of folks don't care so much about privacy. Ie. in the scenario there was an illegal hiding of revenue from the IRS. The privacy infringement simply corrected a wrong. So, for many folks they remain unconvinced because they aren't doing anything wrong, so they feel they have nothing to hide, and don't take issue.

Perhaps, a better scenario is that you are chatting with a fellow entrepreneur about bitcoin, a short while later they are charged by the IRS for tax evasion. Meanwhile, your conversation with them on the subject is discovered through the NSA machinery and is used to kick off an investigation against you.

I wish I had a better example, as that would serve us well to educate folks on the value of privacy. I'm writing in part that someone has a better example to share.

[orthecreedence]

You're right, it's a tricky line to walk.

When not citing technology-focused issues, I like to use the bathroom example: "Would you use a public bathroom with glass walls?" It illustrates the difference between covering up wrongdoing and need for personal privacy, two entirely different things.