Can erosion of online privacy be justified by the Nazi notion “If you’ve nothing to hide, you’ve nothing to fear”?
Nazi Minister of Propaganda, Joseph Goebbels preached these words.
A moral philosophical foundation seems appropriate to discuss the statement “If you’ve nothing to hide, you’ve nothing to fear” as it relates to the issue of privacy erosion. In addition, it is important to take note that Joseph Goebbels spoke these words as he retained the position as Nazi Minister of Propaganda.
The philosophy of morality resonates with Nietzsche’s master-slave theory. These terms do not carry their literal meanings. Instead both master and slave represent layers in society. A slave layer can be a master layer compared to a ‘weaker’ group of people. (Nietzsche, F.W., 2015)
The theory of this concept can be applied to the discussion of the digital era’s privacy erosion.
According to Nietzsche’s master-slave concept, Goebbels’ position at the time as a Minister was in the Masters category. Nietzsche speaks of ‘the will to power’ as the driving force of survival which explains how a master’s ego can achieve and retain power by taking control of the slave layers.
