Saying "No" is Not a Bad Thing
And how this relates to freedom in the "digital age"
Saying "No!" is a powerful thing. It's one way to make life easier. We are inclined to agree on many things despite not genuinely wanting to; it results in us living to meet other people's expectations.
When people make concessions in their daily lives they alter their life and define their days based on these concessions. This limits freedom or "free will".
To give an example, if someone says you must swipe in to use the gym (many such requirements were attempted here for 25 years already; they walk away from such requirements due to many people refusing to play alone) the customer can say "No!" At that point, "client retention" is at risk.
If society does not have "objectors" who say no to needless data collection, then the collection will only ever expand over time.
The notion of refusal to participate as a driver of societal progress isn't novel; it predates all those "digital issues".
Society benefits from people who say "No!" even when it seems impolite (and possibly inconvenient) to say so. █
Image source: Vintage, antique art illustration of a beautiful young woman holding a glass of beer, advert poster from 1898