Privacy

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The "Nothing to hide" argument is (still) a logical fallacy (lemmy.ml)

submitted 4 days ago by Charger8232@lemmy.ml to c/privacy@lemmy.ml

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Almost one year ago I made this post about how the Wikipedia page for the "Nothing to hide" argument removed the text stating that it is a logical fallacy. I advocated for it to be added back. Three days after that post it was added back.

Exactly one year, to the day, after the logical fallacy text was removed, it got removed again. On October 19th of this year, a different user removed the text from the Wikipedia page, despite plenty of evidence that the "Nothing to hide" argument is a logical fallacy.

I am back here, once again, advocating that the text be added back.

P.S. It's an absolutely crazy coincidence that the same edit happened to the same page on the same day exactly one year apart.

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[–] RattlerSix@lemmy.world -1 points 3 days ago

I don't see how it is a logical fallacy. A fallacy is when the conclusion is not supported by the premises. "Nothing to hide" is only one of those two required elements, the premise. The conclusion is undefined and might or might not be supported by the premise.

"Nothing to hide" is often a fallacy when arguing, say, government surveillance. "If you have nothing to hide you'll accept metal detectors at the airport" is a fallacy. I accept metal detectors, but it's because I value everyone's safety over my minor invasion of privacy, I don't think the premise of "nothing to hide" leads to the conclusion.

But I can't say for sure every "nothing to hide" argument would be a fallacy without the rest of the argument.