Privacy is key to freedom of thought a watchful eye over everything we read or watch can chill us from exploring ideas outside the mainstream privacy is also key to protecting speaking unpopular messages and privacy doesnt just protect fringe activities. A liberal philosophical argument was developed by beate rossler in a book that has the same title as bruces essay did you read it the value of privacy polity press 2004 no matter if you do something wrong or illegal just the fact that you feel watched or know you are being watched has an impact on the way you behave. The value of privacy what we really value is the freedom to choose when well give up some privacy and when well tell people to butt out john stossel 4232014 1200 pm ntr23 flickr. Privacy is necessary for the formation of intimate relationships allowing us to reveal parts of ourselves to friends family members and lovers that we withhold from the rest of the world it is therefore a precondition for friendship individuality and even love