The Tech Policy Press Podcast Protecting Privacy and Dissent in an Age of Authoritarianism and AI
27 snips
Jul 6, 2025 
Helen Nissenbaum, a philosopher and Cornell Tech professor, dives into the crucial topics of privacy in our digital age. She discusses the theory of contextual integrity, arguing for a societal approach to managing data flow. With the rise of AI and surveillance, she advocates for obfuscation as a vital tool for protecting identities. The conversation touches on evolving privacy norms and the ethical implications of data collection. Nissenbaum emphasizes the need for innovative, collaborative strategies to resist encroaching authoritarianism and secure individual privacy rights.
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Privacy as Appropriate Data Flow
- Privacy is about the appropriate flow of data, not just secrecy or stopping information leakage.
- It serves not only individuals but society as a whole, protecting contextual norms in different social domains.
New Actors Challenge Privacy Norms
- New actors like social media platforms are challenging established roles and norms for data flow.
- Society has yet to define rules governing these actors, creating a huge threat to privacy norms.
Obfuscation Empowers The Weak
- Obfuscation creates noise to confuse data collectors and undermines their ability to surveil effectively.
- It serves as a tool for the weak against the strong in the digital surveillance power imbalance.
