Techdirt Reading List: Data And Goliath

from the privacy-and-security dept

This is our second week of doing the Techdirt Reading List (don't miss last week's!). Once again, each week, we'll be discussing a book that we think our community might really enjoy. If you click on the Amazon link in this story and buy it that way, you'll also be supporting Techdirt in the process.

This week, the book of choice is famed computer security expert (and meerkat impersonator) Bruce Schneier's latest book, Data and Goliath: The Hidden Battles to Collect Your Data and Control Your World.

Beyond having a damn good title, the book is a really fantastic discussion about the ways in which data is being collected and used these days -- sometimes for good reasons, but often with not nearly enough concern for security and privacy. It's not a "never give your data away" screed like some privacy extremists prefer, but rather a much more thoughtful look at the real tradeoffs involved, and suggestions on a way forward. The book notes that we shouldn't look at "surveillance" as being a tradeoff with "security." Instead, we should focus on security first, as that will always protect us more than surveillance. And with that, there should be much greater transparency in how data is used -- for both governments and corporations. With real transparency people can better understand the tradeoffs and have a better understanding of what data they're handing over in exchange for what benefits. For governments, there needs to be much greater oversight (real oversight) and accountability for what they're doing with our data.

There's obviously a lot more in the book, and some people may feel it doesn't go far enough, while others may feel it goes too far. But overall, it's a very thoughtful and thought-provoking discussion on how data is being collected all around us, and we haven't fully come to terms with what's happening and who's in control over that data. So, if you haven't read it yet, go check it out!

Filed Under: bruce schneier, data and goliath, oversight, privacy, surveillance, transparency