Big Brother Watches in the West Too

By Mika Horelli, BRUSSELS

In recent years, we’ve become accustomed to hearing cautionary tales about China’s all-encompassing digital surveillance and its citizen scoring system, evoking some of the darkest dystopian futures imaginable. 

History offers us crucial lessons. When we look back at surveillance machinery from the past, like the Soviet Union’s KGB or East Germany’s Stasi, we see how immense resources were poured into controlling citizens. These now-defunct dictatorships could only dream of the capabilities that modern digitization and AI have brought to monitoring and control. 

It’s an undeniably alarming scenario, but the truth is even more unsettling: governments’ interest in our digital footprints isn’t confined to authoritarian states. It extends everywhere, even to Western democracies, where the right to privacy has long been a cornerstone of individual freedom. 

I’ve worked as a journalist for the past thirty years. A big part of my job involves gathering information, interpreting it, and transforming it into articles and columns that tell my readers what’s happening in the world and what decisions corporations, politicians, and authorities are making on behalf of citizens. Sometimes, finding sensitive information requires dealing with sources who need protection. The real question is: how feasible is this protection in practice?

Personal data has become the most valuable resource of our time. With every Google search, Gmail email, Facebook update, or file uploaded to a cloud service, our digital footprint grows—and so does the appetite of authorities to use this data. Recent statistics speak volumes: government data requests to tech giants like Apple, Google, and Meta have skyrocketed. 

According to Surfshark’s research center, between 2013 and 2022, governments worldwide requested data on over nine million user accounts from these major companies. The number of requested accounts grew more than eightfold during this period. In 2022 alone, the number of requests increased by 38% compared to the previous year. There’s no sign of this trend slowing down. 

The United States and the European Union are at the forefront of these requests. In 2023, Google received over 80,000 data requests from U.S. authorities alone. That’s an astonishing figure that forces us to question how well privacy is truly protected in the digital age.

Tech companies are also becoming more willing to comply with these requests. In the first half of 2023, Apple provided data in 78% of cases, while Google did so in 81%. Meta, meanwhile, received a staggering 272,000 user data requests globally in the same year. Despite their public stances on protecting privacy, these numbers tell a different story.

The statistics also reveal striking differences between countries. Belgium, for instance, stands out in Europe for its activity: over a three-year period, it requested three times more data relative to its population than the global average. The United States remains the leader in absolute numbers, with nearly 237,000 user accounts requested in 2022. This raises an important question: why are some countries so much more active? And what does this mean for citizens’ privacy?

This kind of development doesn’t come without consequences. When people feel they’re under constant surveillance, self-censorship increases, and participation in public discourse diminishes. At the same time, trust in institutions erodes. The more people believe their privacy is being violated, the greater the risk of societal unrest and political instability. This isn’t just a theory—studies show that those subjected to surveillance actively reduce their presence on public platforms.

Tech companies, meanwhile, are walking a fine line between protecting user privacy and meeting government demands. Apple emphasizes protecting data stored on physical devices, yet cloud-stored data is handed over when requested. Google’s transparency reports detail the number of data requests, but as the numbers show, the vast majority of these requests are approved. This raises a critical question: who watches the watchers?

The European Union has taken steps to strengthen privacy protections. The NIS 2 Directive, which came into effect in 2022 and must be implemented by member states by October 2024, is a step in the right direction. It requires countries to improve cybersecurity and protect citizens’ privacy. In Finland, the government has proposed new cybersecurity legislation, including the establishment of a dedicated data security unit. But will this be enough to curb the growing wave of data requests?

Citizens have made their views clear. In the United States, 72% of the population supports stricter regulations on how personal data is handled. Privacy isn’t just a political issue; it’s also a cultural and moral choice. The same trend is evident in Europe, where the GDPR has demonstrated how legislation can provide strong privacy protections.

Finding solutions isn’t easy, but there are opportunities. First and foremost, transparency is key. Companies and authorities must openly report the number and nature of data requests. Secondly, we need up-to-date legislation that addresses the challenges of the digital age. Technology also has a role to play: advanced encryption techniques and anonymization methods can help protect user data.

History provides us with critical reminders. When we examine past surveillance and intelligence systems like the KGB or Stasi, we see how massive resources and tools were used to control citizens. These examples underscore why privacy is such a vital part of democracy. While today’s technology makes surveillance far more effective, it doesn’t mean we should accept it. Instead, we have a responsibility to demand limits and ensure history doesn’t repeat itself.

At the same time, as surveillance increases, individual citizens bear even greater responsibility for their own digital footprints. How do we ensure our data is secure? Are the platforms and services we use respectful of our privacy? Answering these questions is part of a broader conversation about the kind of digital world we want to leave for future generations.

Ultimately, the issue of privacy isn’t just a technical or legal one; it’s profoundly human. It ties into fundamental rights like freedom of speech and how we perceive ourselves as members of society. Everyone has a right to privacy, but realizing that right requires constant vigilance and dialogue. That conversation is happening now, and its outcome will define the values of the digital age.