From Andreas Keller
The “pro-surveillance mantra” you mention – “if you have nothing to hide, you’ve got nothing to worry about” – is indeed stupid (11 October, p 5). Governments can redefine what constitutes a crime, and may say this includes holding a certain opinion or belonging to a certain minority.
Where I live, 70 years ago it was a death-penalty “crime” to be a Jew. In a democracy, only the people should be able to decide what is a crime, but strong surveillance tools in the hands of a government undermine that same democracy. This is the way into dictatorship.
Cologne, Germany
