Rep Mike Rogers says privacy not violated unless you ‘know about it’

According to the chair of the House Intelligence Committee, Rep. Mike Rogers, you can’t have your privacy violated unless you are aware of your privacy being violated. That’s the circular logic employed during an exchange with American University law professor Steve Vladeck at a hearing on privacy and the NSA. You’ll have to see the video, below, to believe it. Here’s the transcript:

Rep. Mike Rogers: I would argue the fact that we haven’t had any complaints come forward with any specificity arguing that their privacy has been violated, clearly indicates, in 10 years, clearly indicates that something must be doing right. Somebody must be doing something exactly right.

Prof. Vladeck: But who would be complaining?

Rogers: Somebody who’s privacy was violated. You can’t have your privacy violated if you don’t know your privacy is violated.

Vladeck: I disagree with that. If a tree falls in the forest, it makes a noise whether you’re there to see it or not.

Rogers: Well that’s a new interesting standard in the law. We’re going to have this conversation… but we’re going to have wine, because that’s going to get a lot more interesting…

This exchange begins at 2:10.

Who do you agree with? Do you believe your privacy has been violated?