Covid matters but comparing death counts doesn't exactly mean the deaths in 9/11 didn't matter. That would be the relative privation fallacy. I wouldn't shrug it off just cause it was "only 3000 people" or something.

I think the confusion about your reply is that it reads like you're assuming the person giving advice was being ego-centric or thinking everyone lives in the US or something, when in reality they were just answering the question. Nothing malicious. Spreading their own wisdom.

I tell them privacy is a human right, that I don't need to come up with justifications for why I don't want to be exploited, and that you're only conditioned not to care.

If they don't see my point then I say OK then.