The Historical Context of Privacy

The discussion emphasizes the historical significance of privacy, beginning in the 1890s, a decade marked by the rise of centralization. This centralization is identified as a threat to privacy, as centralized systems require comprehensive knowledge of their components, leading to a loss of individual privacy. Key technologies of the time, such as the railroad and telegraph, enabled stronger governance and control, paving the way for modern statism. Furthermore, the ideological shift towards collectivism and the welfare state during this era exacerbated the erosion of individual freedoms and privacy.