The FUD Industrial Complex: Selling Safety, Delivering Risk

This work examines the growing “FUD Industrial Complex,” an ecosystem of privacy apps, tools, and influencers that profit from fear rather than providing effective protection. The analysis shows how all-in-one privacy services centralize user risk, how rebranded or misleading hardware and software products create new vulnerabilities, and how fear-based influencers promote exaggerated threats to drive engagement. The paper argues that meaningful privacy is contextual and requires evidence-based practices rather than universal, fear-driven solutions. It highlights the need for clearer vetting, better user education, and modern frameworks aligned with Ubiquitous Technical Surveillance (UTS).

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