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Thats not what commodity means. What you describe is privacy being a luxury.

I think they meant "commodity" in the general sense of "something you have to pay for" or "something subject to market pricing" as opposed to something always assumed.

"Commodity" seems right. "Luxury" carries another sense that I think is fitting, too.

- Something useful that can be turned to commercial or other advantage.

- Advantage; benefit

Surely personal data is the commodity turned to commercial advantage? Personal privacy, or lack of is the symptom or consequence. Privacy is a luxury for those able to opt out, usually via wealth.

What I mean by "commodity" is:

Suppose you want privacy: You need to buy your way through to get it

Suppose you want something for free: You need to sell your privacy for it

Although your point is right; maybe "luxury" is a better term.

Has privacy become a privilege?

I appreciate that it's fashionable to pick on the "rich", but it's not the poor who are having their private lives splashed all over the media 24/7.

What the media can dig up is usually some small proportion of the real story, assuming that what they have is true to begin with.