‘Privacy is Power’ review

Privacy is power’s back cover says it will “highlight the implications of our laid-back attitude to privacy and sets out how we get out of the mess we’re in’. In reality it only partial delivers on this promise.

The author, Carissa Véliz, is an Associate Professor at the Faculty of Philosophy and the Institute for Ethics in AI as well being a Tutorial Fellow at the University of Oxford. Coming from this background, the research is excellent and there are numerous case studies and stories about institutions we deal with on a day-to-day basis misusing our data. It highlights how easy it is to fall into the trap of supplying information in return for meagre reward, whilst your data is repeatedly sold to the highest bidder.

The academic roots of this book are evident in the style and the tone of the book, which is not a bad thing, but some of the conclusions and recommendations may sound great in the lecture theatre can be naive when dealing with the realities of having an online presence. What is missing the practical application of the research, at least until the final concise chapter. There are many good points but I’d personally expected the book to provide insights and practical advice throughout.

If you’re new to the field of privacy, ‘Privacy is power’ is the perfect starting point to learn more about this area and get some quick tips on how to improve your online presence. However, for anyone with any experience in this area, many of the articles and case studies are ones you’re probably familiar with from other publications. If you’re looking for practical guide to protecting your privacy, there are some good tips but I recommend looking for other books.

Author: Carissa Véliz
Published: 2020