Nothing to Hide: The False Tradeoff between Privacy and Security

Most of us have wondered how well the law protects our privacy, given the rapid pace at which new technologies have emerged over the past few decades. Daniel J. Solove is a law professor who clearly understands privacy law, and its implications (and shortcomings) regarding the Internet. He is, without a doubt, one of the best writers we have on the subject. His writing style is lucid, easy-to-read, and free of legal jargon.Privacy is a big issue online these days, but I don't think the era of Facebook, Google, and iPhones is going to be rolled back any time soon. It shouldn't be, and we shouldn't exhaust ourselves demanding that the companies behind these products respect our privacy. The forward march of technology might be inevitable, but the erosion of how well the law affords privacy protection for each citizen's online activity is far from deterministic. We can still work to enact legislation that will protect all of us. And I'd argue that we should.Daniel Solove has written a brilliant introductory guide to this area of the law. I'd recommend this book to anyone interested in online privacy law. If you've ever been even remotely curious about your rights regarding your own digital footprints, buy it now.

The arguments presented in the book are great and unique.In fact, this book changed my whole perspective on the whole "privacy for tranquility" argument. The truth is one doesn't need to give up privacy in order to ensure tranquility but rather tranquility can co-exist with a respect for privacy.However, the book wasn't the most organized book in terms of how the chapters were organized...and the topics. Moreover, the book was repetitive at times. Lastly, the book jus wasn't the most entertaining read...and usually I don't evaluate entertainment much when it comes to legal books. But the author himself made it clear that this was written for a general audiance...so I expected it to be more entertaining like most books that cater towards the general audience tend to be.

Solove has done it again: a fascinating and important work on privacy and national security that leaves no stone unturned and grips the reader with laugh-our-loud moments. Nothing to Hide highlights the stakes in our national security agenda with serious insight and deep analysis. Solove takes apart the arguments and assumptions animating current surveillance efforts, and in a story-telling style, helps us appreciate the full range of their costs and benefits. Solove gives us a set of tools to understand and critically assess emerging technologies of surveillance like the TSA body scans, fusion centers, and the like. A must read!

Disclosures: I do not know the author, I have no financial stake in this book, I did buy it on Amazon. I successfully used this book in my graduate class on law and policy. Anyone who is interested in partaking in today's discussion on security and surveillance would be well advised to read this book. Its biggest asset is that it presents a balanced view of the issues. You can then make up your own mind.

Before I read this book, I had no understanding of privacy laws. This book was not easy to read for me. I work in the networking CE field and I don't have any background in laws. But I learned a lot from reading this book. It is an eye opener for a non-expert. The book is good enough that I intend to read it a second time.

I don't normally get into legal writings, but this was is different. It gives you clarity as to why your privacy is important and why it is important to protect your rights!While you may start out reading and thinking you have nothing to hide, you will find that you really have nothing to share.

The topic is quite interesting, and the author knows his stuff well. But knowing it and writing it is a different topic. The book gets a little repetitive at times, and is very dry in writing style.

Solove makes this complex topic easy to understand, so much so that it is required reading for our executive staff. If we could wave our magic wand wand and have every citizen of the US read it, we would.

Probably the most concise summary of this very relevant subject there is at the moment. Excellent read. I love the way he presents it in a neutral way too.

Wer bis jetzt nicht kapiert hat, was die Überwachung uns antut, dem ist nicht zu helfen. Alle anderen, die sich zumindest Gedanken machen, sollten dieses Buch lesen. Nicht ein Niemand, hat hier geschrieben, sondern ein führender Professor. Und dazu Ami, die es normalerweise nicht so ernst nehmen mit dem Datenschutz. Absolut lesenswert

Really interesting read. May need to do some secondary research while reading. All in all really good!