This book provided a clear overview introduction to privacy, from literature review, the value and dilemma of privacy and the laws regarding privacy. It briefly described various technical aspects of privacy risks, not limited to cyber privacy, such as CCTV, RFID, biometrics, GPS, Drone, etc.
The most important part was the review of privacy from legal perspectives, from Chapter 3 through Chapter 5. The author, who has published numerous books and articles on law, provided a great overview of laws regarding privacy both in the western and around the world. It was very helpful to understand the historical background of laws on privacy.
Some thoughts:
・No doubt that privacy is an enduring value and constitutional rights. The value of privacy as a general moral, political, or social value is undeniable, but the more the notion is stretched, the greater its ambiguity. In pursuit of clarity, it is arguable that at its heart lies a desire, probably a need, to prevent information about us being known to others without our consent.
・Many people see technology as a threat to privacy but instead technology brings about more solutions to protect user’s privacy. Medias tend to drive public attention towards cyber privacy, especially bullying internet companies. But in fact, those companies don't usually have access to individual level data, and they cannot disclose user information even when subject to a court order.
・I think the two keys to unlock the privacy-centric era are technology and law. Enhanced privacy laws are enforced in many countries but the headlines of personal data leaks are on the news everyday. (Yesterday, the news on TV revealed that a city official lost an USB which contains ~500k personal information of the city’s citizens after being completely drunk and sleeping on the street) Cloud, security and privacy enhancement technology must be applied more widely across private and public sectors.