With all of the talk of terrorism and new laws to catch terrorists (and whatever other brand of criminal you abhor) over the last few years, many people seem to accept the idea that it is ok to compromise a little on some basic rights and freedoms in times of crisis.
Well-known computer security expert Bruce Schneier writes:
My problem with [arguments over privacy rights] is that they accept the premise that privacy is about hiding a wrong. It's not. Privacy is an inherent human right, and a requirement for maintaining the human condition with dignity and respect.
Privacy protects us from abuses by those in power, even if we're doing nothing wrong at the time of surveillance.
and later on
Too many wrongly characterize the debate as "security versus privacy." The real choice is liberty versus control. Tyranny, whether it arises under threat of foreign physical attack or under constant domestic authoritative scrutiny, is still tyranny. Liberty requires security without intrusion, security plus privacy. Widespread police surveillance is the very definition of a police state. And that's why we should champion privacy even when we have nothing to hide.
Read the whole article from Wired magazine.