In a world where privacy is constantly under threat, Life After Privacy challenges us to rethink our priorities. DeBrabander argues that while we may believe privacy is essential for democracy, this concept is actually a relatively new and historically inconsistent value. Instead, DeBrabander contends that democracy depends more on a strong public sphere—an environment of open debate and collective engagement—that is currently jeopardized by our digital habits and surveillance culture. In this episode, we explore DeBrabander's thought-provoking call for a shift in focus from personal privacy to civic empowerment, urging us to cultivate democratic values through active public participation. DeBrabander’s perspective invites us to consider whether privacy, as we understand it, is a meaningful foundation for political freedom, or if we should embrace a new form of public-mindedness to counter the influence of powerful tech entities and state surveillance.