The Momma Clan

Rethinking digital life in the age of algorithms

In 2018, the Cambridge Analytica scandal revealed how millions of Facebook users’ data had been harvested to manipulate elections. In 2021, WhatsApp’s new privacy policy triggered a mass exodus to Signal and Telegram. And closer home, India’s Aadhaar system—hailed as revolutionary—sparked debates about whether it empowered citizens or exposed them to mass surveillance.

These weren’t just headlines. They were wake-up calls, reminding us that data privacy is no longer an abstract issue—it’s about democracy, dignity, and daily life.

So the question remains: is privacy really our birthright? Or has it been turned into just another commodity—something bought, sold, and traded?

 Privacy as a Right – More Than Just Fine Print

On paper, privacy is supposed to protect us. It’s written into laws, constitutions, and even the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. It’s meant to give us space—to choose what we share, and what we keep to ourselves.

But let’s be honest: in practice, it often doesn’t feel like that.

Take the WhatsApp privacy policy controversy of 2021. Millions of users in India and across the world panicked when WhatsApp announced changes that would allow more data-sharing with Facebook. Overnight, conversations about “moving to Signal or Telegram” spread like wildfire. For many, it was the first time they realized that a private chat app might not be entirely private after all.

Clicking “consent” has become a ritual. We go through the motions, but rarely with real understanding. It’s like being asked to sign a contract you’ve never seen, just to enter the room where everyone else is already hanging out.

So yes, privacy is a right—but one that feels fragile, easily overshadowed by corporate interests and digital convenience.

 Privacy as Commodity – Welcome to the Marketplace of Selves

Here’s the truth most of us already know in our gut: our data is money.

Every like, every Google search, every GPS ping is being collected, analyzed, and sold. That’s why you see ads for shoes right after you just thought about buying them. Creepy? Yes. Coincidence? No.

The Cambridge Analytica scandal in 2018 showed the world just how dangerous this can get. A political consulting firm harvested the Facebook data of millions—without consent—and used it to influence elections. Suddenly, it wasn’t just about ads for sneakers. It was about democracy itself being shaped by invisible algorithms.

In this marketplace:

We aren’t the customers.

We’re the products.

And while a handful of people can buy back some control—through expensive privacy-friendly devices, VPNs, or ad-free subscriptions—most of us can’t. Which means privacy, ironically, has become a luxury item in a world where it should be free for all.

 The Hybrid Reality – Walking the Tightrope

So where does that leave us? Somewhere in between.

Governments promise to protect privacy, but often use surveillance in the name of security. India’s Aadhaar system is a prime example. While it streamlined welfare and banking for millions, it also sparked fears of misuse and data leaks. Was it empowerment, or was it the foundation of a mass surveillance system? The debate continues.

Companies give us convenience, but take our data as payment.

We, the people, crave privacy, but also trade it for the ease of free apps, online shopping, or social media connections.

It’s a messy reality. Privacy is both a right and a commodity—negotiated daily in a digital bargain most of us barely notice.

 Privacy as Sacred Shadow – A Deeper Way to See It

But let’s zoom out for a moment. Beyond laws and markets, there’s something more personal at stake.

Think of your data as your digital shadow—it follows you everywhere, quietly recording your movements, your moods, your habits. Now imagine strangers poking into that shadow, selling pieces of it, or reshaping how you see yourself. Doesn’t it feel like more than just economics?

Many cultures—including Indian philosophy—see the self as layered and sacred. Exposing it without consent is more than invasion; it’s a kind of violation. That’s why this debate isn’t just about policy or profit—it’s about respect, dignity, and even spirituality.

The good news? Movements for data sovereignty and ethical tech are growing. People are beginning to reclaim their digital selves—not as products, but as something deeply human.

 Trends Shaping the Privacy Story

To keep it real, here are some forces shaping our future with data:

AI & Surveillance → Predicting our behavior before we even act.

Social Media → Turning our personal lives into marketing strategies.

Privacy Tech → From encrypted chats to blockchain IDs, new tools are rising.

Subscription Models → Pay for privacy, or give it up for free.

These trends raise the same core question: are we in control, or are we just being carried along?

 Privacy as a Threshold

So, is data privacy a right, a commodity, or something deeper? Honestly—it’s all three.

To governments, it’s a shield or a tool.

To corporations, it’s a resource or a liability.

To us, it’s a fragile inheritance—at risk, but reclaimable.

But here’s the part that matters: privacy is not just a technical detail. It’s a threshold—a line between who we are and how much of ourselves we give away.

The choice is ours:

Do we keep bartering our identities for convenience?

Or do we reclaim our digital selves with awareness, courage, and care?

Because privacy, at the end of the day, is not just about data. It’s about dignity. It’s about freedom. And it’s about the unseen parts of ourselves that deserve to stay sacred.

-Debanjali Nag