On Privacy and Technology

"How is technology changing privacy? Are we doomed? Is there anything we can do? "Privacy is dead!" This proclamation rings out again and again as we have witnessed the rapid rise of new digital technologies. Are we destined to watch helplessly as technology turns our society into a terrible blend of Franz Kafka's The Trial, George Orwell's 1984, Aldous Huxley's Brave New World, and Margaret Atwood's The Handmaid's Tale? Can anything be done to save us from a dystopian world without privacy? In this short and accessible book, internationally renowned privacy expert Professor Daniel J. Solove reflects on his examination of privacy over the past twenty-five years. On Privacy and Technology describes the profound changes technology is wreaking upon privacy, why these changes matter, and what can be done about them. Solove's lively discussions of technology and policy are infused with the humanities. He argues that the law should focus on power and structure. The law is failing because it is not holding creators and users of technology accountable for the harms they create. On Privacy and Technology is an essential primer for anyone who wants to understand the threats to privacy in today's digital age and how we can face them effectively. Solove deftly weaves together philosophical ideas with concrete practical knowledge from his many years of working with technology companies and talking with policymakers. Succinct, understandable, and engaging, On Privacy and Technology is beautifully written, passionate, and filled with surprising insights"--