The need for privacy is always directly propotional to the suppression of free speech in a society

When you try to advocate for more privacy, most individuals come up with the following argument: If you have nothing to hide, why the need for privacy? Now as stupid as that may sound (for the exact reason as why would you even lock your homes when going out if you have nothing to hide there too), that's not the only reason for having privacy.

A bigger reason for having privacy is the sheer fear instilled among the people by the so called stakeholders of the society. A journalist writes something on his/her blog and the next thing you know they are sent summons or notice for defamation. The more this happens in a society, the more there is signalling that you shouldn't voice your controversial opinions publicly, unless you want them suppressed.

If you want to voice them, you must use an anonymous cover like a reddit pseudonym or an anonymous blog. Imagine a world where everyone is tolerant and accepting of the views of the opposite camp, a world where politicians and industrialists aren't rattled by what online bloggers write about them, will privacy still be needed in such a world? Perhaps not in matters like opinions and social platforms but it will still be needed to defend against intrusive data collection and profiling of individuals.

Speaking of which, do companies who collect our data just use it for benign advertising like we are all led to believe? Most of just simply buy this argument and thus conclude that no privacy is needed. After all, what harm can a simple and relevant advert do even if my private data were used to generate that advert?

But that's no longer the case now. In recent times, we are seeing that data collection is being used for much sinister purposes like affecting elections and political outcomes. Our private data is not only being stolen from us but is also being used against us as a collective society!

But as private individuals, we hardly have time to worry about that, do we? As long as I get to use that favourite android or iOS app for free, I am going to be happy, damn be privacy! As long as the average individual has this attitude, privacy is doomed for all of us. Even if you don't use the intrusive app yourself, some friend or relative of yours will do it and through them the social media companies can shadow profile you anyway.