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On Privacy and Technology
Succinct and eloquent, On Privacy and Technology is an essential primer on how to face the threats to privacy in today's age of digital technologies and AI.
With the rapid rise of new digital technologies and artificial intelligence, is privacy dead? Can anything be done to save us from a dystopian world without privacy?
In this short and accessible book, internationally renowned privacy expert Daniel J. Solove draws from a range of fields, from law to philosophy to the humanities, to illustrate the profound changes technology is wreaking upon our privacy, why they matter, and what can be done about them. Solove provides incisive examinations of key concepts in the digital sphere, including control, manipulation, harm, automation, reputation, consent, prediction, inference, and many others.
Compelling and passionate, On Privacy and Technology teems with powerful insights that will transform the way you think about privacy and technology.
With the rapid rise of new digital technologies and artificial intelligence, is privacy dead? Can anything be done to save us from a dystopian world without privacy?
In this short and accessible book, internationally renowned privacy expert Daniel J. Solove draws from a range of fields, from law to philosophy to the humanities, to illustrate the profound changes technology is wreaking upon our privacy, why they matter, and what can be done about them. Solove provides incisive examinations of key concepts in the digital sphere, including control, manipulation, harm, automation, reputation, consent, prediction, inference, and many others.
Compelling and passionate, On Privacy and Technology teems with powerful insights that will transform the way you think about privacy and technology.
136 pages, Hardcover
Published January 16, 2025
18 people are currently reading
2351 people want to read
About the author
Daniel J. Solove
33 books36 followersDaniel J. Solove is the Eugene L. and Barbara A. Bernard Professor of Intellectual Property and Technology Law at the George Washington University Law School. He is also the founder of TeachPrivacy, a company that provides privacy and data security training programs to businesses, law firms, healthcare institutions, schools, and other organizations. One of the world’s leading experts in privacy law, Solove is the author of 10+ books and textbooks and 100+ articles. His articles have appeared in the Harvard Law Review, Yale Law Journal, Stanford Law Review, and Columbia Law Review, among others. Professor Solove writes at LinkedIn as of its “thought leaders,” and he has more than 1 million followers. He more routinely blogs at Privacy+Security Blog, https://www.teachprivacy.com/privacy-...
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
April 11, 2025
Big thanks to Oxford University Press, Daniel J. Solove, and Book Sirens for providing me with an advanced copy of On Privacy and Technology. This is an important book that deals with an aspect of daily life that touches us all. While our personal information is widely available on many different platforms, people routinely forgo the calls to limit what we share and often exchange access to technology and information for sharing their personal information. As Solove explains throughout the book, since this kind of information and data remains almost like an abstraction, we often do not realize the implications of what we are sharing and how this kind of access to our personal information might impact us in the future. To further complicate this issue, our personal data and information is widely intertwined with digital technology, which is continuously evolving, and now with AI available for everyday users, we will continue to see how our personal information is digested and used by these massive systems. Thankfully, Daniel J. Solove, a legal scholar and professor of Intellectual Property and Technology Law at George Washing University Law School, has written and concise and practical book that defines what privacy is, why it matters to us, and how technology, digital technology in particular, serves as a threat to our privacy.
As an educator, I really appreciated the organization of this book. Professor Solove presents his argument with some background information about how to think about privacy and technology, which seems to make the abstractions of our privacy more concrete and practical. In part II, he outlines the evolving nature of technology, specifically emphasizing digital technology, and the implications that these changes and its continuing evolution have on our privacy and personal information. The last section focuses on how the law has responded to privacy, and how corporations and other entities typically exploit our lack of concern and indifference to privacy, or maybe the kind of myth of the privacy paradox, to gain power in society. Each section has sub-sections that are brief but frequently contain relevant examples and useful metaphors and analogies to make the ideas and concepts comprehensible and concrete for readers. I also really appreciated that Professor Solove references John Dewey’s influence on his work, and I think that is apparent throughout the book. His frequent metaphors, analogies, and examples of case law, history, and hypotheticals provide practical references that take these kinds of privacy abstractions and illuminate them for a more common audience. It’s not always an easy read, but I think that they provided more relevance and urgency to his arguments. Furthermore, Dewey’s ideas about pragmatism and the application of theory in everyday experience are evident throughout the book.
There is much to consider throughout the book, and I appreciated how thoughtful Professor Solove is in urging readers to be more attentive to the ways in which they may readily give over personal information for access to digital technology like social media, websites, or other places. Furthermore, I also appreciated that he frequently challenges myths and assumptions about privacy and technology that we often readily accept, but that also leave companies, CEOs, and other institutions less accountable for their misuse or breach of data. In particular, he notes how we often accept that regulations stifle innovation, and that oftentimes when technology changes or evolves, the lack of understanding coupled with a desire to let technology continue to evolve and grow unfettered. This ultimately leaves users at risk, as we can see now how technology is being used in an unfettered way to dismantle government agencies and programs in the name of efficiency and cost. I think that this also aligns with his idea of the myth of technology as a neutral entity, which Professor Solove explains is mythical because there is always a person behind the technology, whether it is a user, a programmer, or some other engineer. Those programs, algorithms, or whatever always have some kind of bias built in, yet we assume that technology is neutral. Furthermore, we assume that technology is infallible and incapable of mistakes, but we can see now how technology in the hands of those who are possibly incompetent, nefarious, or both can wreak havoc on institutions we may rely upon and generally like.
Other sections detail some of the implications of using our personal data, and how it can affect things like our credit scores, access to loans and housing, and in some extreme nightmare cases, maybe even implicate us in crimes. We also see this happening now as the US government is surveilling international students’ social media and past actions, and with the recent announcement that the state department will begin surveilling foreign visitors. It’s not only shocking but also confusing to see this misuse of technology to surveil tourists, and one can only assume that tourists and other visa applicants will only be the start. It’s also surprising that there is not more consternation and outrage about this surveillance, something we’d expect to see in other countries that the US has typically criticized for their overbearing surveillance and limitation of speech. However, as Professor Solove explains, access to data and limitations to privacy are power; it’s almost like this inverse relationship where the more data and information we share, the less power we have; the less privacy we have, the more power other institutions gain. Think about how powerful social media companies like Meta and X have become as a result of people’s data and their privacy. Professor Solove also notes how perfunctory the kinds of privacy notifications we receive when we sign up for a service; we typically skip over these terms of service and opt in, not really aware of what we are agreeing to share. Professor Solove also notes how even landmark privacy statements like the GDPR in the EU have heightened people’s awareness of digital companies’ data collection, it still lacks enforcement.
Despite these changes, Professor Solove remains both hopeful and skeptical about the future of laws to help regulate online privacy and protect people. In some ways, it was exciting to read about the opinions of justices like Brandeis and Warren about privacy and the law. I was heartened to hear their views about the kind of expansive or progressive notion of law—how laws, especially those that work with technology, need to not only regulate what is, but also what can be. I’m not sure that many of the current Supreme Court justices would share this view, but it at least points to some precedent and some ways that the law can be forward thinking and less reactive. However, Professor Solove also realizes that people need to be conscious about their rights and the dangers of privacy and data as well. That’s why this book is really important for everyone to read—not just legal scholars, but anyone who has accounts online, who uses the internet, should read through at least some of these sections to help understand the benefits and risks of sharing data and foregoing privacy. Although some people might continue their approach and continue to share their data and private moments of their lives, others may reconsider when they learn how companies use their data and often fail to keep their data and private information insecure. I plan to revisit this book, and I hope to share the risks and concerns with my kids, who are beginning to want their own online accounts. This is a highly important book, written in a straightforward and well-organized and structured manner with great examples, analogies and metaphors to make complex and abstract ideas more relatable and understandable.
As an educator, I really appreciated the organization of this book. Professor Solove presents his argument with some background information about how to think about privacy and technology, which seems to make the abstractions of our privacy more concrete and practical. In part II, he outlines the evolving nature of technology, specifically emphasizing digital technology, and the implications that these changes and its continuing evolution have on our privacy and personal information. The last section focuses on how the law has responded to privacy, and how corporations and other entities typically exploit our lack of concern and indifference to privacy, or maybe the kind of myth of the privacy paradox, to gain power in society. Each section has sub-sections that are brief but frequently contain relevant examples and useful metaphors and analogies to make the ideas and concepts comprehensible and concrete for readers. I also really appreciated that Professor Solove references John Dewey’s influence on his work, and I think that is apparent throughout the book. His frequent metaphors, analogies, and examples of case law, history, and hypotheticals provide practical references that take these kinds of privacy abstractions and illuminate them for a more common audience. It’s not always an easy read, but I think that they provided more relevance and urgency to his arguments. Furthermore, Dewey’s ideas about pragmatism and the application of theory in everyday experience are evident throughout the book.
There is much to consider throughout the book, and I appreciated how thoughtful Professor Solove is in urging readers to be more attentive to the ways in which they may readily give over personal information for access to digital technology like social media, websites, or other places. Furthermore, I also appreciated that he frequently challenges myths and assumptions about privacy and technology that we often readily accept, but that also leave companies, CEOs, and other institutions less accountable for their misuse or breach of data. In particular, he notes how we often accept that regulations stifle innovation, and that oftentimes when technology changes or evolves, the lack of understanding coupled with a desire to let technology continue to evolve and grow unfettered. This ultimately leaves users at risk, as we can see now how technology is being used in an unfettered way to dismantle government agencies and programs in the name of efficiency and cost. I think that this also aligns with his idea of the myth of technology as a neutral entity, which Professor Solove explains is mythical because there is always a person behind the technology, whether it is a user, a programmer, or some other engineer. Those programs, algorithms, or whatever always have some kind of bias built in, yet we assume that technology is neutral. Furthermore, we assume that technology is infallible and incapable of mistakes, but we can see now how technology in the hands of those who are possibly incompetent, nefarious, or both can wreak havoc on institutions we may rely upon and generally like.
Other sections detail some of the implications of using our personal data, and how it can affect things like our credit scores, access to loans and housing, and in some extreme nightmare cases, maybe even implicate us in crimes. We also see this happening now as the US government is surveilling international students’ social media and past actions, and with the recent announcement that the state department will begin surveilling foreign visitors. It’s not only shocking but also confusing to see this misuse of technology to surveil tourists, and one can only assume that tourists and other visa applicants will only be the start. It’s also surprising that there is not more consternation and outrage about this surveillance, something we’d expect to see in other countries that the US has typically criticized for their overbearing surveillance and limitation of speech. However, as Professor Solove explains, access to data and limitations to privacy are power; it’s almost like this inverse relationship where the more data and information we share, the less power we have; the less privacy we have, the more power other institutions gain. Think about how powerful social media companies like Meta and X have become as a result of people’s data and their privacy. Professor Solove also notes how perfunctory the kinds of privacy notifications we receive when we sign up for a service; we typically skip over these terms of service and opt in, not really aware of what we are agreeing to share. Professor Solove also notes how even landmark privacy statements like the GDPR in the EU have heightened people’s awareness of digital companies’ data collection, it still lacks enforcement.
Despite these changes, Professor Solove remains both hopeful and skeptical about the future of laws to help regulate online privacy and protect people. In some ways, it was exciting to read about the opinions of justices like Brandeis and Warren about privacy and the law. I was heartened to hear their views about the kind of expansive or progressive notion of law—how laws, especially those that work with technology, need to not only regulate what is, but also what can be. I’m not sure that many of the current Supreme Court justices would share this view, but it at least points to some precedent and some ways that the law can be forward thinking and less reactive. However, Professor Solove also realizes that people need to be conscious about their rights and the dangers of privacy and data as well. That’s why this book is really important for everyone to read—not just legal scholars, but anyone who has accounts online, who uses the internet, should read through at least some of these sections to help understand the benefits and risks of sharing data and foregoing privacy. Although some people might continue their approach and continue to share their data and private moments of their lives, others may reconsider when they learn how companies use their data and often fail to keep their data and private information insecure. I plan to revisit this book, and I hope to share the risks and concerns with my kids, who are beginning to want their own online accounts. This is a highly important book, written in a straightforward and well-organized and structured manner with great examples, analogies and metaphors to make complex and abstract ideas more relatable and understandable.
August 27, 2025
4.5/5 - although noticeably repetitive in the writing, author daniel j. solove emphasizes the importance of privacy in the digital age by combating common stereotypes/myths, and carrying his argument with strong reasoning (i loved the milk comparison he used to describe how people should be able to place our trust on companies), and using many court case examples to solidify his stance.
after having privacy law with technology discussions with jinny, i was curious of my stance (although i already knew i valued privacy) but wanted to know more about what it actually meant. this book, paired with careless people by sarah wynn-williams was a great opener to witnessing how unregulated current practices are, and how predatory companies will be in the name of being innovative. i found so many connections between sarah’s experiences with daniel’s, and reading it together was just .. wow (scary!).
daniel also describes how design practices and the impracticality of deleting all the data any company ultimately prevents and disillusions people from having any real, individual control over their data. he instead focuses on holistic and societal measures to protecting people. i really enjoyed this book and buy it for my own collection, it had so many good standpoints that were so relevant to today’s issues.
after having privacy law with technology discussions with jinny, i was curious of my stance (although i already knew i valued privacy) but wanted to know more about what it actually meant. this book, paired with careless people by sarah wynn-williams was a great opener to witnessing how unregulated current practices are, and how predatory companies will be in the name of being innovative. i found so many connections between sarah’s experiences with daniel’s, and reading it together was just .. wow (scary!).
daniel also describes how design practices and the impracticality of deleting all the data any company ultimately prevents and disillusions people from having any real, individual control over their data. he instead focuses on holistic and societal measures to protecting people. i really enjoyed this book and buy it for my own collection, it had so many good standpoints that were so relevant to today’s issues.
December 22, 2025
a bit repetitive but great book
April 1, 2025
Thanks to Booksirens and Daniel J. Solove for the Arc in exchange for my honest review.
The longer my notes, the better the book, at least that’s my philosophy, and believe me, I took a lot of notes. The book starts with “Although technology poses grave threats to privacy, technology per se isn’t the enemy. I love technology.”— a man after my own heart. Too often, authors who write about the dangers of tech are a bit all or nothing— “tech is evil, and we should go back to only pen and paper” type of guys (they’re often guys, I’m sorry). The truth is, we live in a world where we cannot escape technology, and we don’t actually want to; tech is the reason life is not as hard as it was for our ancestors. The issue is that, like pretty much everything in life, technology doesn’t self-regulate.
So many good things in this (short and concise) book, I don’t even know where to start, so let’s go with bullet points:
- Great definition of what technology and privacy are, and why tech might be a threat to privacy.
- Totally agree with one major flaw in most arguments used right now when it comes to privacy : you can’t expect the individual to be in charge of protecting its own privacy. We expect too much from regular people and too little from tech companies.
- Great explanation about why technology magnifies everything; nowadays, when there’s a data breach, it can impact millions of people. Because we’re putting so much of us online, it can also make it impossible to change and grow without risking having our past online self catch up with us (the right to be forgotten is such an important concept).
- We can’t live off-grid; telling people to avoid tech to protect their privacy is not a good answer.
- We need to stop with the myth of “impartial” or “neutral” technology. Tech is made by humans, and none of us are neutral. Same with the myth of regulation preventing creativity or technological progress (an argument used by tech companies when it comes to AI and the way the mean European Union is preventing them from doing whatever they want).
- A good law should always evolve and move with the way tech advances.
- We should teach more humanities (yes, yes, yes) because they teach us how to see the world and how to be better people (again, yes, yes, yes).
I honestly could go on and on. I felt very smug when the author mentioned that the only “good” (but not good enough) privacy law was the European one (I’m French). I do believe that if a regulation annoys big companies, it means that it’s a good one. If you’re interested in those topics, I highly recommend this book, super accessible and yet incredibly thorough.
The longer my notes, the better the book, at least that’s my philosophy, and believe me, I took a lot of notes. The book starts with “Although technology poses grave threats to privacy, technology per se isn’t the enemy. I love technology.”— a man after my own heart. Too often, authors who write about the dangers of tech are a bit all or nothing— “tech is evil, and we should go back to only pen and paper” type of guys (they’re often guys, I’m sorry). The truth is, we live in a world where we cannot escape technology, and we don’t actually want to; tech is the reason life is not as hard as it was for our ancestors. The issue is that, like pretty much everything in life, technology doesn’t self-regulate.
So many good things in this (short and concise) book, I don’t even know where to start, so let’s go with bullet points:
- Great definition of what technology and privacy are, and why tech might be a threat to privacy.
- Totally agree with one major flaw in most arguments used right now when it comes to privacy : you can’t expect the individual to be in charge of protecting its own privacy. We expect too much from regular people and too little from tech companies.
- Great explanation about why technology magnifies everything; nowadays, when there’s a data breach, it can impact millions of people. Because we’re putting so much of us online, it can also make it impossible to change and grow without risking having our past online self catch up with us (the right to be forgotten is such an important concept).
- We can’t live off-grid; telling people to avoid tech to protect their privacy is not a good answer.
- We need to stop with the myth of “impartial” or “neutral” technology. Tech is made by humans, and none of us are neutral. Same with the myth of regulation preventing creativity or technological progress (an argument used by tech companies when it comes to AI and the way the mean European Union is preventing them from doing whatever they want).
- A good law should always evolve and move with the way tech advances.
- We should teach more humanities (yes, yes, yes) because they teach us how to see the world and how to be better people (again, yes, yes, yes).
I honestly could go on and on. I felt very smug when the author mentioned that the only “good” (but not good enough) privacy law was the European one (I’m French). I do believe that if a regulation annoys big companies, it means that it’s a good one. If you’re interested in those topics, I highly recommend this book, super accessible and yet incredibly thorough.
April 23, 2025
Would be a terrific overview of the field for anyone interested
From my Amazon review
It would be so helpful if a copy of Dan Solove’s “On Privacy and Technology” could magically appear on the desk of every member of Congress in short order. Among many other wonderful attributes, the short book offers an informed and insightful take on privacy law - where we have been, where we are, and where we should be going. People in Congress need to read it to understand the project, and the rest of us need to read it to know how to ask for what we need.
Here, in a slim volume, Solove consolidates, summarizes and updates top takeaways from two decades of his work about the ways emerging technologies affect privacy. While “[p]rivacy is immensely complicated,” Solove uses illustrative examples and well-placed metaphors to convey the constituent concepts that make up privacy in a highly readable, easily understandable way.
As he explains, when it comes to privacy, we have tried self-regulation - a system in which the onus of protecting privacy rests largely with consumers, and it does not work. Acknowledging the challenge posed by the need to craft laws capable of protecting privacy in a world of rapidly changing technologies reliant on data collection and use, Solove emphasizes the importance of accountability and ethics. Solove underscores the need to dispel the myths that prevent regulatory progress and to see that regulatory effort as an ongoing project. His book can help us see and understand privacy and technology in ways that will make those goals possible.
“The best thing people can do,” he says, “is to demand that policymakers do something meaningful. People shouldn’t accept the anemic laws they’re being given. . . . The best thing people can do to protect their privacy is to . . . Demand laws that require rigorous accountability.”
Solove has made an invaluable contribution to the explication and development of the field of privacy law over the past 25 years, and his latest book is yet another example of that effort. And here, as he provides an overview of privacy and technology that will equip each reader with an understanding of basic principles, he also points to other bright lights - scholars in the privacy field that readers can turn to for more information on various topics covered - including Danielle Citron, Woodrow Hartzog, Ari Ezra Waldman, Neil Richards, Paul Schwartz, Margot Kaminski, and MaryAnne Franks, among others.
From my Amazon review
It would be so helpful if a copy of Dan Solove’s “On Privacy and Technology” could magically appear on the desk of every member of Congress in short order. Among many other wonderful attributes, the short book offers an informed and insightful take on privacy law - where we have been, where we are, and where we should be going. People in Congress need to read it to understand the project, and the rest of us need to read it to know how to ask for what we need.
Here, in a slim volume, Solove consolidates, summarizes and updates top takeaways from two decades of his work about the ways emerging technologies affect privacy. While “[p]rivacy is immensely complicated,” Solove uses illustrative examples and well-placed metaphors to convey the constituent concepts that make up privacy in a highly readable, easily understandable way.
As he explains, when it comes to privacy, we have tried self-regulation - a system in which the onus of protecting privacy rests largely with consumers, and it does not work. Acknowledging the challenge posed by the need to craft laws capable of protecting privacy in a world of rapidly changing technologies reliant on data collection and use, Solove emphasizes the importance of accountability and ethics. Solove underscores the need to dispel the myths that prevent regulatory progress and to see that regulatory effort as an ongoing project. His book can help us see and understand privacy and technology in ways that will make those goals possible.
“The best thing people can do,” he says, “is to demand that policymakers do something meaningful. People shouldn’t accept the anemic laws they’re being given. . . . The best thing people can do to protect their privacy is to . . . Demand laws that require rigorous accountability.”
Solove has made an invaluable contribution to the explication and development of the field of privacy law over the past 25 years, and his latest book is yet another example of that effort. And here, as he provides an overview of privacy and technology that will equip each reader with an understanding of basic principles, he also points to other bright lights - scholars in the privacy field that readers can turn to for more information on various topics covered - including Danielle Citron, Woodrow Hartzog, Ari Ezra Waldman, Neil Richards, Paul Schwartz, Margot Kaminski, and MaryAnne Franks, among others.
March 18, 2025
This is concise, eye-opening primer, for anyone concerned about privacy. It is very accessible and engaging. If you enjoyed Shoshana Zuboff’s The Age of Surveillance Capitalism, then this is a must-read book. It is much shorter than Zuboff’s great book but it packs quite a punch. Solove structures the book into three key sections: how to think about privacy and technology; the dimensions of technological change; and power, law, and accountability.
What sets this book apart is its depth – it goes beyond surface-level discussions to examine both historical and contemporary forces shaping privacy. Solove presents real-world examples and thought-provoking arguments that highlight the challenges of balancing privacy and innovation, as well as a path forward. Solove shows how the law isn’t holding the creators and users of new digital technologies (such as AI) accountable. Without accountability, there is no incentive to reduce risk or prevent harm. The book walks through the many different kinds of harm and why current law and policy aren’t addressing them.
A quick afternoon read, this book is for anyone seeking a deeper understanding of privacy and its evolving role in our world. Highly recommended!
What sets this book apart is its depth – it goes beyond surface-level discussions to examine both historical and contemporary forces shaping privacy. Solove presents real-world examples and thought-provoking arguments that highlight the challenges of balancing privacy and innovation, as well as a path forward. Solove shows how the law isn’t holding the creators and users of new digital technologies (such as AI) accountable. Without accountability, there is no incentive to reduce risk or prevent harm. The book walks through the many different kinds of harm and why current law and policy aren’t addressing them.
A quick afternoon read, this book is for anyone seeking a deeper understanding of privacy and its evolving role in our world. Highly recommended!
July 26, 2025
This is an interesting and sometimes frightening book.
As wonderful as technology is, it poses a great danger to our personal privacy. The author goes on to describe some of the ways that it endangers us.
For example, the fact that we can speak to people who are at a distance, tempts us to share intimate details.
Also, technology is looked at as being NEUTRAL when it is far from neutral. I'm sure many of you have heard the "garbage in. garbage out" saying. This author says "bias in, bias out".
Most people do not read the privacy notices. After all, they are either too long or difficult to understand, making us more vulnerable to having our information stolen.
Of course, the other problem is that these companies to not take responsibility for the data breaches that happen, but blame the users.
This is a short book, but it is written by a college professor and that makes it a slower read.
As wonderful as technology is, it poses a great danger to our personal privacy. The author goes on to describe some of the ways that it endangers us.
For example, the fact that we can speak to people who are at a distance, tempts us to share intimate details.
Also, technology is looked at as being NEUTRAL when it is far from neutral. I'm sure many of you have heard the "garbage in. garbage out" saying. This author says "bias in, bias out".
Most people do not read the privacy notices. After all, they are either too long or difficult to understand, making us more vulnerable to having our information stolen.
Of course, the other problem is that these companies to not take responsibility for the data breaches that happen, but blame the users.
This is a short book, but it is written by a college professor and that makes it a slower read.
April 9, 2025
Professor Solove is the leading teacher in Law and Technology at George Washington University Law School. This short book is readable and has good information on what should be going on to protect everyone from losing their privacy to AI and Government.
At the moment the individual is tasked with keeping their privacy intact even though that gets tougher as the algorithims used by the different companies expand all the time.
Solove believes that laws should be updated and fluid as technology changes so should the laws to protect individuals. He would rather have them be messy and complicated than generic. He believes that these type of laws will be better for the individuals.
I learned alot from this book and highly recommend it to everyone that uses technology daily. And who doesn't in this day and age?
At the moment the individual is tasked with keeping their privacy intact even though that gets tougher as the algorithims used by the different companies expand all the time.
Solove believes that laws should be updated and fluid as technology changes so should the laws to protect individuals. He would rather have them be messy and complicated than generic. He believes that these type of laws will be better for the individuals.
I learned alot from this book and highly recommend it to everyone that uses technology daily. And who doesn't in this day and age?
April 4, 2025
The title of this book suggests it might be very academic and technical. It is. There are some interesting metaphors that I appreciated.
But...
His metaphors and stories are outdated and long winded.
No mention of how surveillance and internet sleuths used footage and accused a few innocent people of storming the capitol on January 6th (and plenty of guilty citizens). Just the 'Target sends baby ads to teen's dad'. Even I know that story.
No mention of social scores in China using face recognition, and what that could mean for us. Just..yup...wiretapping.
No mention of how authors and anyone who shows up on Google consents to their websites/books being used as training by AI. Just a Monica Lewinsky story.
Stuffy, long winded, confusing, irrelevant, outdated.
But...
His metaphors and stories are outdated and long winded.
No mention of how surveillance and internet sleuths used footage and accused a few innocent people of storming the capitol on January 6th (and plenty of guilty citizens). Just the 'Target sends baby ads to teen's dad'. Even I know that story.
No mention of social scores in China using face recognition, and what that could mean for us. Just..yup...wiretapping.
No mention of how authors and anyone who shows up on Google consents to their websites/books being used as training by AI. Just a Monica Lewinsky story.
Stuffy, long winded, confusing, irrelevant, outdated.
September 3, 2025
Boils down to “people are stupid so they need stupid people”
Disregards any moral obligation one has to protect themselves and instead says “the law” (he carefully uses the phrase over and over when what he really means is politicians, needs to step in and strip individuals of any agency.
Beyond the poor arguments the book is outdated, redundant and extremely shallow.
On a positive note, it is well written and easy to follow.
Disregards any moral obligation one has to protect themselves and instead says “the law” (he carefully uses the phrase over and over when what he really means is politicians, needs to step in and strip individuals of any agency.
Beyond the poor arguments the book is outdated, redundant and extremely shallow.
On a positive note, it is well written and easy to follow.
April 5, 2025
This is probably the best short guide to privacy and technology ever made. This book should be on every policymaker and lawmaker's desk (maybe even back pocket because it is so concise and effective). Read it.
April 6, 2025
A great read about how to keep you safe while working with technology. It is full of useful information and tips about how to keep safe
I received an advance copy from hidden gems and it was a very useful read
I received an advance copy from hidden gems and it was a very useful read
April 25, 2025
Expertly treats the political, legal, cultural, and business issues that prevent us from dealing with the problem of privacy and technology.
Highly recommended.
Highly recommended.
October 14, 2025
Nice, short, and informative! Didn’t go too much in depth but covered all relevant privacy issues - great overview. Will be reading his Understanding Privacy book next for better understanding- he’s a great writer
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews