To Put an End to the "Defense of Privacy on the Internet"*

Despite explicit and recurring tensions, forcefully decried by many, the cause of "defending privacy on the internet" feels charged with importance. Yet, the words often fail to resonate with real conviction.

The Misleading Nature of “Privacy”

"Privacy" is traditionally understood in contrast to public or professional life—these are separate realms we navigate daily. But life is not neatly divided into such categories. By focusing solely on “privacy,” we overlook other crucial aspects of our lives, and in doing so, fail to fully engage our audience.

Moreover, many are now deeply attuned to the complexities of privacy due to controversies like the Cambridge Analytica scandal or Apple vs. FBI, where the lines between private and public information are blurred. To drive the point home, privacy is no longer an isolated issue; it's intertwined with every part of our digital existence.

The Concrete Reality of the Internet

The term “internet” misleadingly suggests a distant, abstract concept, but this misses a fundamental truth: the internet is not just a virtual entity, it’s a tangible, physical reality that permeates daily life. Information that enters the network doesn’t disappear—it’s processed and distributed to identifiable actors: companies, individuals, and institutions. We see this most clearly in major privacy breaches like those affecting Equifax and Facebook.

Beyond the traditional scope of the internet, the rise of IoT (Internet of Things) devices has expanded this network, making privacy a growing concern. These are not abstract concerns but concrete threats to privacy in daily life—threats which will only increase as connected devices become more integrated into our personal and professional spaces.

Rethinking the Notion of “Defense”

The very language of “defense” suggests battle, creating a sense of urgency that can provoke fear rather than action. Readers in various age groups, particularly those who have experienced the effects of fear-based narratives in political or social debates, may resist this framing. Instead of casting privacy as a battlefield, it’s more effective to focus on the need for awareness and education.

Like the debates around net neutrality or encryption, the conversation should pivot from fear to empowerment. If there is a battle, it is against ignorance—not individuals. The goal is to help people understand the implications of their data and privacy choices, not scare them into disengagement.

Education, Not Fear

Ignorance about data privacy can only be dispelled through education. This means starting with respect for others' experiences, followed by support, listening, and the gradual sharing of essential knowledge. Privacy isn’t just a technical issue—it’s a human one. Solutions that address one without the other miss the point entirely.

People are often drawn to action when presented with specific steps to protect themselves, like using tools such as VPNs or encryption. By providing these solutions, we can shift the narrative from one of helplessness to one of control and empowerment.

The Real Issue: Consent

Privacy isn’t about keeping things hidden; intimacy is meant to be shared. What matters is consent. When information is shared without consent, that’s when we face a violation of trust. In many ways, this can be compared to legal cases of betrayal, much like the metaphorical betrayal represented in George Orwell’s 1984 or Brave New World. These references bring clarity to the idea that non-consensual sharing of personal information is not just a breach of privacy—it’s a violation of the trust that is fundamental to personal autonomy.

This violation of trust has now grown to industrial proportions, particularly through automated data processing in what we know now as social media algorithms. The mental and emotional impact of these violations must be understood as part of a larger, more human struggle for autonomy.

Cybersecurity: A Human Issue

Cybersecurity is often mistaken as purely a technical field, concerned only with protecting systems and information. But the real goal of cybersecurity is to safeguard the freedom of individuals. It is about ensuring that each person retains the power to shape their own life within the shared rules of society—rules created through mutual respect and understanding.

To conclude, privacy on the internet is not about defending against abstract threats. It’s about fostering a culture of informed, consensual sharing, and empowering individuals to protect their autonomy in an increasingly digital world. This shift in framing—from fear to empowerment, from technical jargon to human connection—should be a driving force to embrace reality rather than antagonizing it.

*This article is an English version of the original article Pour en finir avec la « défense de la vie privée sur internet » by Aurelien Grosdidier . Many thanks to Sabrina ( Alexandra ) Bensadi for the inspiration.