Because the vast majority of people like privacy in theory but not enough to spend the hour it would take to learn how to encrypt their email and documents.
Seriously, how many HN users have spent hours complaining about privacy on here but still don't encrypt their own email? This isn't to excuse anything illegal the US gov't might be doing, but if it matters as much to people as they say you'd think they'd have at least taken some immediate action.
>Seriously, how many HN users have spent hours complaining about privacy on here but still don't encrypt their own email?
I would think that most HN users would be willing to encrypt their email, but know they can't convince their friends/family/etc to do so. Encryption takes two to tango.
To put things in perspective: at CRYPTO at some point in the past, I had a student stipend. I needed to send some documentation via email. I asked the person responsible, a prominent cryptography researcher (who will not be named), if they had a public key. The answer was, "No, I really should set one up but I'm just too busy."
When not even the researchers who run a top-tier cryptography conference are bothering, you know that it is not just about non-technical folks being clueless.
I'd like to think that's true, but I doubt it. I bet tons of HN users run in the same circles as other HN users and communicate regularly, but never even consider encrypting their emails.
Seriously, how many HN users have spent hours complaining about privacy on here but still don't encrypt their own email? This isn't to excuse anything illegal the US gov't might be doing, but if it matters as much to people as they say you'd think they'd have at least taken some immediate action.