The False Tradeoff Between Privacy and Security

George Washington University Law School professor Dan Solove, author of Nothing to Hide: the False Tradeoff between Privacy and Security is interviewed by the ACLU.

On his book:

We’ve all heard the argument that “people shouldn’t worry about government surveillance if they have nothing to hide.” Or the argument that “in times of crisis, we must trade privacy and liberty for greater security.” The book responds to these arguments, exposes their false premises, and corrects myths about how the law protects privacy.

On what should have been asked post 9/11:

Do you want the NSA to engage in surveillance in the war on terrorism without a warrant, probable cause, or any judicial oversight or do you prefer the NSA to engage in such surveillance with a warrant, probable cause, or some form of judicial oversight?

On free speech:

When government power chills speech, it doesn’t just affect the speaker but all of society. We have less robust speech and fewer perspectives. A precedent is set that can chill speech by many others in the future.