To ignore the right to privacy is to fail to recognize the benefits it brings and the serious problems that arise when it is lost, both personally and collectively.

The famous phrase “knowledge is power” resonates in numerous movies and novels. If knowledge really is power, privacy acts as the means to manage that power. The more data one possesses about a person, the greater the ability to anticipate and manipulate his or her actions, thus granting considerable power over him or her. This power can be exercised by both governments and companies, whose priorities may not coincide with those of the individual.

Technological evolution has enabled both companies and governments to manage an unprecedented quantity and quality of information. Never before in history has so much been known about an individual. The concept of “surveillance capitalism,” introduced by Shoshana Zuboff in 2013, refers to the commercialization of personal data and the fundamental framework of the surveillance economy in which we live today. To understand the loss of privacy, it is necessary to understand how this system operates.

Devices such as computers, cell phones and smart objects are, in essence, data collectors. Every interaction with mobile reveals data about location, contacts, preferences, browsing history and more. Those interested in learning what information Google has about them can visit https://myactivity.google.com and find an extensive log of their online activities. The collection of personal data, especially on Android devices, is well known, but what is the purpose behind this collection?

The extracted data is analyzed, aggregated and sold to create user profiles ranging from gender and age to interests, religious beliefs and political orientation. There is no single entity in charge of this process; different companies, institutions and governments use similar collection and analysis models. Companies such as Facebook, Twitter, data-brokers, insurers and banks, as well as Cambridge Analytica, participate in this practice. The result is a profile that makes it possible to predict and potentially influence users’ decisions.

Why is privacy so crucial?

Our behavior changes when we are aware that we are being watched or recorded. Moreover, if every action or word is documented, it limits our ability to change our minds. We could always be judged by what we said or did in the past. Human beings are not static; they evolve throughout their lives. However, society often does not accept that someone can change their perspective as a result of new experiences or information. A person with definite political views who then radically changes will be seen as inconsistent. Privacy gives us the freedom to evolve, to have second chances and to grow without being judged by the natural process of human development.