Paranoia in extremis
Would hate to live my life in fear of "what might be".
Most of us benefit hugely from 24/7 access to the internet. I would be lost in both a personal and business capacity without online access to my smart phone. If privacy really bugs you, you'll be pleased to know - if you didn't already - that WhatsApp and many other Apps are 100% encrypted, meaning no-one can snoop on you.
Yesterday had to go to the North. And although CYTA's service does not function in the North, my Samsung S22 took me (offline using a WhatsApp location pin) to within 5 metres of my intended destination. If I wanted to refresh my internet access all I had to do was pop into a local caff. Came back using a WhatsApp pin offline too. Effortless.
I nowadays do all my banking from my mobile: UK bank, Cypriot bank and Revolut. Instant money transmission. Never ever go inside a bank these days. All banks have an obligation to monitor the transmission of large amounts of money, money-laundering regs., and all that. And why not, banks and governments have to make it as difficult as poss for gangsters and fraudsters to move money around. Would we want it any other way?
In our business we trade with China (a lot) and receive payments from customers all over the globe, mostly nowadays online. I have no problem if governments monitor any of our financial activities, as we have nothing to hide... and therefore nothing to fear.
Many peeps, even in first world countries, have far more important, GENUINE, concerns to worry about: where's the next meal coming from, how will I put money into the meter, why can't I make ends meet? Just see the headlines emanating from the UK each day.
Personally I don't use Facebook in anything other than a business capacity, but I wonder whether those who fret about governments syping on their activities also post their day-to-day goings-on on Facebook?
5g rollout can't come fast enough for me, and I suspect most others will in time use it as part of their day-to-day connectivity. Though there are conspirators who still believe that the installation of 5g masts brought about Covid. And that men never landed on the moon. And that the earth is flat