Privacy is the one thing that so few people care to fight for anymore, maybe we just took it for granted or maybe there are just too many hoops that we cannot bother to care.
I went down the online privacy rabbit hole a few years ago and it is extremely difficult to remain anonymous, when online and to remove your information from a two minute google search.
To be honest, at that time it was too challenging for me and I gave up, but I may revisit this rabbit hole again.
btw I hope your friend/acquaintance is ok, it really sucks to see people in jail and my heart goes out to him.