(Six-minute read) 

THANKS TO TRACK AN TRACE millions of bits of information about each of us circulate through the internet, but our freedom and democracy don’t seem to have been substantially impacted as yet. 

We might still feel free to do as we please but will the introduction of Covid-19 passports turn us all into Dalits? ( Better known as Untouchables)

These people in the Hindu religion face discrimination and even violence from members of higher castes, or traditional social classes, particularly in terms of access to jobs, education, and marriage partners.

The concept of vaccine passports is no longer theoretical.

The premise for such passports (whether digital or otherwise) will indicate whether individuals have received A COVID-19 VACCINATION OR BEEN TESTED RECENTLY.

Are those that are not vaccinated to be marked with a yellow star.

There are also many privacy concerns to be addressed with vaccine passports that will result in benefits been distributed unequally, not removing them but perpetuating them.

We all know that data in the form of knowledge is the manner born to the digital age of algorithms.  

These days we are constantly asked by pop-ups to agree to the website’s privacy policy – us of one’s data and so on in order to personalize your experience and share your data. ( We value your privacy offers a choice – I accept or change consent – manage your choices) 

Why is this happening? 

Because the General Data Protection Regulations ( GDPR) have come into force with fines up to 20 million Euros.

How can such a privacy policy be legal?

They claim to value my privacy and I can review what they mean by that in the policy. However, at the same time, they do not commit to keeping it like that and might not “value my privacy” at any later point in time.

Now think this further.

If this clause is in fact legal, we could set up a website with a volatile privacy policy. That would be a privacy policy that changes on every visit to the website.

As an example, on the first visit, we happily tell the visitor that we do not collect any information, do not use personal information, and of course, also do not sell any kinds of data to advertising networks. However, as soon as the visitor accepted this policy (of course they are privacy-aware and read the policy), it will suddenly change to the opposite. The visitor will never be informed or even asked for consent again.

Clearly, we all place some value on privacy, but why?

We’ve seen how we use privacy as a commodity, if we can give out some of our private information and receive a bargain at the store then we call that a fair trade. 

If we use our privacy as a commodity, then we ought to think about how much we should ask for in return for our privacy. In setting that price, it would be a good idea to think about what sort of value our privacy has.

What if the situation with Covid Passports becomes considerable direr – Stigmatised for life – Contaminated from birth.

Democracy is a social good, and privacy is instrumental to that social good but we ought to think about how much we should ask for in return for our privacy. 

                                  ———————–

The non-conformist can take unpopular stances on government policy that might shine a light on issues that others hadn’t thought of. They’re the ones who get meaningful conversations going in public.

Now most of us are perfectly happy for our lives to be an open book even if there is a price to be paid.  

In setting that price, with the arrival of Covid-19 passports it would be a good idea to think about what sort of value our privacy has.

The argument for Covid -19 passports draws on the concept that people who are being watched will behave differently than people who aren’t being watched.

We don’t do things when we think it’s possible that someone is watching.

Security cameras serve this function even when they aren’t being monitored because the possibility of being watched is often enough to alter our behavior.

There is more at stake here than our preference to maintain sole control of our information. Privacy also serves as a social good.

We can use privacy to delineate our relationships with other people and we can make use of our private information in order to get those things that we want and need.

Now, it might seem like our loss of privacy is necessary to save lives but the flu kills around 650.000 of us a year. 

One thing however remains constant throughout this pandemic and the history of the world. 

WE ALL HAVE TO DIE SOMETIME. SADLY STATISTICALLY YOU ARE STILL YOUR OWN WORST ENEMY. 

All human comments appreciated. All like clicks and abuse chucked in the bin.