From social media to surveillance cameras, U.S. data privacy laws blur the line between freedom and control. Here’s what that means for you.
The right to data privacy and a time where kids get their first smartphones at age seven and children can hack … surely these concepts can’t coexist. When we live in a world where every bite of food is documented and a screen is perpetually ready to capture the next viral moment, it seems unlikely that we have a say in how our images are used. Whether we’re a background character or the next unwitting meme, being caught on camera seems out of our hands. But what if that wasn’t the case?
Because here’s the truth: it’s not. At least, not in all countries. And this isn’t just a question of privacy of image. It also pertains to information.
Consider this: A few years ago, I received an email promoting a company I never heard of in a neighborhood I used to reside in. I lived 5,000 miles away in a new country at this point and asked myself, jeez, how did they find me? It wasn’t hard to find out. Within minutes, a friend revealed that my email was public information. But wait—there’s more. He was able to use that email to find my former U.S. address, phone number, birthday, and a host of other personal details. Bingo. Now it wasn’t that hard to see how businesses were targeting me.
But wait—this is normal, right? Isn’t it just how we live? Because it didn’t take me long to dig up information on my family and friends. So we’re all in this together.
Common in the U.S.? Yes. Normal? Not quite.
In Germany, you can’t even photograph someone without permission. And I’ll admit, at first this law felt a bit pedantic. But when faced with the other end of the data privacy scale, I start to question why we don’t have the right to our own images and information in the United States. I mean, isn’t that a violation?
Americans are discovering again and again which rights they don’t really have. Data privacy may not top the list, but it matters. So let’s ask: Do people in the United States deserve more protection than the law currently allows? And what are the consequences of leaving our images—and our identities—up for grabs?
Table of Contents
Growing up without data privacy

As an American born in the nineties and coming of age in the time of great technological expansion, I never considered that I would have a right to data privacy. Later, I discovered as a journalist in the U.S. that information is readily available, and there frankly seems to be very little people can do about it. (And this was before deep fakes, AI confusion, and audio clones.)
The same hard truth was cemented into all school kids: once something goes online, its digital footprint can never be erased. Meaning: be careful what you share or give others access to. And what happens when other people take images of you in compromising situations? Don’t put yourself in those situations.
Victim blaming aside, our digital footprint appeared to be largely out of our control. And the simple answer of “don’t go online” is hardly feasible, especially now that many schools require tablets, laptops, and/or smartphones to navigate curriculum—and the call of social media is constantly blaring. It’s not like there’s just MySpace to tempt us—our phones are cluttered with ads and apps.
So what about data privacy? If American citizens were to search themselves, there is a very good chance they will be faced with their address, phone number, e-mail, relatives, birthday, age, and past residencies. This information will likely be tied into a deeper web of information, as sites like Zillow provide in-depth details about homes that list everything from buying history to annual tax changes.
Is this way of living actually normal? Or does it somehow just feel normal because it became standard?
Perhaps people of older generations would firmly object to such a way of life. But also people from the current generation in other areas of the world would deeply disagree with how readily accessible everything from images to personal details are in the United States.
While we might elect to put our work history on LinkedIn or haven’t bothered to remove school history from Facebook (are people still on there?), Americans have no control over aspects such as addresses, images, and even criminal records being only a curious Google search away.
In fact, it is now such standard practice to search for prospective dates online that it can feel like a red flag if there is no information a search engine can dig up about the person. (What are they hiding? Is their name even real?!)
I told you I dabbled in journalism. I’m quite familiar with freedom of information, as well as how easy it is to track down mostly anyone with a few kernels of knowledge and a little determination. You start with a name and suddenly you’re fifty photos deep into their great aunt’s Florida holiday. (You’re rooting for her to find a second chance at love.) What I’m saying is, information isn’t hard to find.
But this is not something that occurs for people around the world. In fact, there are few digital traces of my new life in Germany aside from what I elect to share; nor is contact information under my legal surname inundated with spam and constant advertisements. This is because plenty of people value data privacy, while the land they live in gives them the right to not be exposed online.
Consent & the camera: a legal divide

Nowhere is the data privacy differences between the U.S. and Germany more evident than in the rules around photography and video.
In the United States, it is quite common to take photos and recordings of not only yourself, but also your surroundings. People record anything they find charming or outrageous—from an elderly couple holding hands to a domestic dispute or public freakout. They even record themselves in places that feel rather private, such as fitness studios. These videos then make their way to social media and are sent around for public viewing without a second thought.
However, a vital element is missing from many of these digital interactions: consent. In fact, I question if many U.S. Americans consider consent before hitting record, largely because neither law nor culture makes it a priority.
Americans, like myself when I first moved to Germany, might be surprised to learn that recording freely is not the standard around the world. While Germans also enjoy capturing moments on camera, there are laws in place to prohibit the filming or photography of people without their consent.
In Germany, you cannot have someone on film without their explicit permission, though such permission can be granted by a clear smile. For example, a stranger smiling into your lens is acceptable, as is asking someone if you can record them. Ultimately, people value their right to privacy—and the law gives them the power to refuse appearing in photos or videos, whether for private or public use.
So while this might complicate taking a candid or filming a TikTok reel, data privacy laws mean that people have power over when their images are taken. And they can exercise their rights if this is violated. The result? Less freedom to do what you want, but more protection and privacy. And this doesn’t just apply to images.
What is Datenschutz?
Datenschutz, or data privacy, is a hot topic in Germany. Germans don’t play around when it comes to their right to privacy. There is both federal data protection and data protection for all 16 states in Germany encompassed under the German Data Protection Act (GDPA).
The Federal Ministry of the Interior and Community states, “The right to informational privacy, i.e. the right of every person to determine how their personal data is used or disclosed, is part of the general right to free development of one’s personality.”
3 dangers of lax data privacy laws

If you think I am exaggerating about German data privacy, try taking a video of someone in Germany without their consent. Better yet, don’t, because this is a massive faux pas, as well as something deeply offensive and legally punishable. And there’s no reason this shouldn’t be the standard, as people have the right to their image.
Even if this is not always a legal right, it should be a moral one. Social media is inundated with videos of people being discreetly filmed, and even though this is often done for seemingly complimentary purposes, there is no reason why consent shouldn’t extend into digital platforms. Exposing others for internet points shouldn’t be celebrated, even if it has been normalized.
And there are more implications that come with lax data privacy. I’ve organized them into three broad categories to try and flesh out the full scope of the issue.
1. Lax data privacy is a safety concern
First, let’s state the obvious. A lack of data privacy is just plain dangerous. I already documented the challenges of obtaining a restraining order in the United States. Do you know how scary it is to have all of your personal information out there?
I mean, you can give your email to someone at a store to have a digital receipt. Or they can read your name off your credit card. Then they spend a few minutes online and know your family tree, where you live, maybe what car you drive. That’s chilling. Plus, having so much easily accessible information certainly raises the risk of identity impersonation and other data breaches.
(As always, be careful about your security question answers and passwords—and no, you shouldn’t make them your childhood address and dog’s name. I know both already thanks to Instagram; I didn’t even need a data privacy leak.)
Here are some sobering stats to keep in mind:
- In 2024, the U.S. Federal Trade Commission logged more than 1.1 million identity theft reports, with related fraud cases in the millions.
- In one year (Sep 2022–Sep 2023), over 5 billion records were affected by data breaches in the U.S.
- Furthermore, the global cost of cybercrime is projected to reach $10.5 trillion this year, growing at an annual rate of 15 percent.
2. Lax data privacy is a social concern
Lax data privacy laws can seriously impact both financial and physical safety. But what other implications does it carry? The truth is, losing control of our image reshapes how we relate to each other in countless ways.
Consider bullying. Around half of U.S. youth have been cyberbullied. Imagine a generation of children growing up believing it’s their right to film anyone, anytime—turning classmates and even teachers into content for likes or ridicule. What if they weren’t allowed to film others being humiliated? Unfortunately, many schools look away when online torment occurs.
And it goes beyond that. Losing the right to one’s image says something about consent. If we’re taught that we’re entitled to other people’s images, where does that line end? Our entitlement comes before someone else’s comfort. And when we normalize taking people’s images without asking, we don’t just strip individuals of control—we teach people that consent doesn’t matter.
3. Lax data privacy is actually a stripped freedom
Many U.S. Americans proudly champion what they believe to be national freedom. But is this really the case? We enter a paradox: free access to other people’s information, freedom to use our cameras as we please—while others have the same access to us.
It appears, as it does increasingly so in this day and age, that people want both ends of the spectrum—at least when it comes to themselves. But here’s the reality for most people: the freedom to do what you want with data privacy ultimately means very little individual protection.
And there are even more grim consequences. Consider a first-time offender. Someone breaks the law. They appear in court, are sentenced, and serve it. But their record remains only a curious Google search away. It’s not just about a background check before hiring—anyone can access their record from coworkers to dates to in-laws. So what about rehabilitation?
When a criminal record follows someone around for life—especially for non-violent first offenders—their reentrance into society is threatened. What chance does someone have at rehabilitation if every curious neighbor or potential employer can summon their past with a single search? In practice, this means they never truly finish their sentence. The punishment simply shifts from prison bars to digital ones.
And that’s the paradox of “freedom” under lax data privacy. We’re free to look up, record, and share—but in doing so, we create a society where no one is ever free from scrutiny. What looks like liberty becomes surveillance, and openness starts to look suspiciously like control.
Who is allowed to breach data privacy?

Never mind this young man. He’s just recording the worst moment of your life for his soon-to-be-viral TikTok. Don’t forget to subscribe!
Before we wrap things up, let’s dig a little deeper into data privacy, including what is and isn’t allowed. Now, while it’s (hopefully) an easy rule to follow that we should be conscientious to not film people without consent, it is another question when it comes to safety concerns and being on camera.
For one, the government clearly is allowed to film people, as the prevalence of CCTV cameras in many major cities shows. However, it’s another question to what extent people should be allowed to record others for safety.
By now you likely won’t be surprised to hear that Germans cannot film their neighbors with household cameras and need permission from them for the placement of external cameras. (Meanwhile, there are also regulations governing how the cameras must be placed.)
When it comes to home security, many suburban American households are now equipped with Ring doorbells and similar devices that record who approaches homes and send footage to the homeowner on their phone. In fact, camera-doorbells are now a multi-billion dollar market that skyrocketed in the past decade. Many neighborhoods then share footage and information in community groups that range from friendly neighborhood watch groups to obsessive monitoring.
These handy security measures are motion-detected and often contain audio/ This makes them useful for spotting criminal activity. Now anything from identifying stolen package thieves to confirming alibis to gathering information in the wake of a local crime can be processed and legally assessed.
However, such observation tools are also used for both unnecessary profiling and intrusive spying. (Thanks, Dale, for doxxing my dog for peeing on your hydrangeas.) Funny as it sounds, these tools easily slip from protection into policing neighbors. Such functions make their true use dubious, though it is undeniably within the right of American legislation for people to have such devices outside of their homes. (And don’t get me started on indoor cameras.)
While some people are staunch believers in the right to protect their homes, it’s nevertheless a difficult situation for those who have an objection to being monitored. Sure, camera doorbells can help catch package thieves. But they also turn neighborhoods into surveillance networks. Once again, the American version of “freedom” looks a lot like being monitored.
Closing words on data privacy in the U.S.
As I wrap things up, I can’t help but feel that lax data privacy laws have led to a society where citizens are duped into becoming Big Brother. Without realizing it, many Americans have taken up posts monitoring and patrolling their neighbors.
Lax privacy protections have also created a paradox: a wide net of so-called freedom that ultimately erodes individual rights. We’re free to record, share, and expose others—yet powerless to stop the same being done to us.
Right now, there’s little U.S. citizens can do to prevent their data from being published or to control when they appear in someone else’s recording. But as the world becomes more digital, it’s worth reevaluating U.S. laws in light of what works elsewhere. In the meantime, we can at least be more conscientious about photographing or filming people without their consent.
As messy as things may be in the U.S., it isn’t like this everywhere. In Germany, my biggest data privacy concern is whether my employer notices I used the company laptop to browse Zalando during lunch. And honestly? That’s how it should be. (For legality purposes, Zalando was, of course, necessary for my KPIs.)
Continued Reading: Cast with Caution: A Deep-Dive into Donald Trump’s Controversies
9 responses to “The Paradox of Freedom: Examining Data Privacy in the U.S.”
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This article really makes me think about how different privacy norms are across countries. It’s unsettling to see how easily personal info is accessible in the U.S. compared to Germany, raising important questions about consent and safety in our hyper-connected world.
This article really opens my eyes to how different data privacy is in the US compared to Germany. Its unsettling to think how much of our personal info is out there with no control over it. The concept of needing consent for photos is a big step up we should consider.
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This is a wild ride through the looking glass! The US really does seem to have a unique brand of normal where privacy is more of a suggestion than a right. Its hilarious how a simple Google search here can挖掘 up someones entire life story, while over in Germany, the mere *thought* of filming someone without asking is practically a capital offense. Consent? Never heard of her! It’s like we have a national hobby of find and re-share. But maybe, just maybe, the German approach—where you actually have control over your own image—has a kernel of sanity in it? Who knew valuing privacy could feel so… normal?
The article brilliantly highlights the stark contrast between U.S. and German data privacy norms. Its amusing how Americans freely document everything, while Germans protect privacy fiercely. The exaggeration about finding a great aunts holiday photos with a simple search is both hilarious and relatable. Love the humor mixed with serious points on consent and safety!
This is a *cringe* read. Americans really *do* seem to have a bizarre allergy to consent, especially with cameras. Its like were living in a reality show where everyones a contestant and constantly filming each other for unknown reasons. German data privacy sounds less like a restriction and more like common sense, which is, frankly, quite normal. The idea that recording strangers is just standard practice is frankly wild and explains so much intrusive online content. While I appreciate the safety benefits of cameras, the US seems to have hit peak Big Brother is watching you… and sharing it on TikTok territory. Its refreshing to see a place where people value their right to not be constantly documented. Maybe we should import some German common sense about privacy before we accidentally document our entire lives into oblivion.
I’m a big fan of your work. This article is another testament to your expertise.