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xtiansimon • today at 11:34 AM • 1 reply • view on HN

> “The citizens really ask for surveillance laws against specific groups (in this case: politicians).”

?? The root of the idea is not bi-directional. Politicians have a particular type of job: public service. It’s this “job” that requires the transparency.

And not transparency into their public life. Though, as a public figure if your private life becomes embarrassing, or salacious you’re guaranteed to have news hounds on your trail. Not least because your public service rivals will use whatever they can to discredit you in the court of public opinion.

It’s the same for the work product. All of the material of governance should be the “property” of the people governed.

Can’t take the heat, stay out of the kitchen.


Replies

aleph_minus_one • today at 1:05 PM

> Though, as a public figure if your private life becomes embarrassing, or salacious you’re guaranteed to have news hounds on your trail.

This is like: if you engage in anti-social behaviour or plan some crime, you deserve to have hounds (law enforcement agencies, intelligence agencies) on your trail because of surveillance data that was gathered about you.

> Can’t take the heat, stay out of the kitchen.

This is like the political argument: "If you have nothing to hide, why are you opposed to the new surveillance law?"