system
Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:
human
ELI5:Why is digital privacy a big deal?

I understand that other countries with authoritarian governments could control their citizens if it's non-existent. Why is it a problem in the US?
gpt
Because we are supposed to be in charge of our government, not the other way around. Our constitution grants the government very limited power. Attempts to reach beyond that are interpreted as affronts to our freedom. Our basic right to liberty literally means to be left alone.  A government snooping into every email, text and phone call is not leaving us alone.  It can collect and use that information to effect political change (why was Watergate such a big thing?) to smear or intimidate / coerce people, or arrest people on suspicion of being a terrorist. (Can anyone really explain to me what a terrorist is? Sounds conveniently nebulous). Our privacy is a really really big thing. Its right up there with free speech and owning guns.