Traditional media is over. The internet reigns. And in the attention economy, influencers are royalty. But who are they … and how do you become one?

Break the Internet takes a deep dive into the influencer industry, tracing its evolution from blogging and legacy social media such as Tumblr to today’s world in which YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok dominate. Surveying the new media landscape that the rise of online celebrity has created, it is an insider account of a trend which is set to dominate our future — experts estimate that the economy of influence will be valued at $24bn globally by 2025.

Olivia Yallop enrols in an influencer bootcamp, goes undercover at a fan meetup, and shadows online vloggers, Instagrammers, and content creators to understand how online personas are built, uncovering what it is really like to live a branded life and trade in a ‘social stock market’. From mumfluencers and activists to governments and investors, everyone wants to build their online influence. But how do you stay authentic in a system designed to commodify identity? Break the Internet examines both the dangers and the transformative potential of online culture.

This timely book presents a detailed analysis of the role of law and regulation in the utilisation of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the media sector. As well as contributing to the wider discussion on law and AI, the book also digs deeper by exploring pressing issues at the intersections of AI, media, and the law. Chapters critically re-examine various rights and responsibilities from the perspectives of incentives for accountable utilisation of AI in the industry. Featuring chapters from leading scholars in the field, Artificial Intelligence and the Media provides a timely and in-depth research-based contribution to complex themes - especially at the interface of new technology (including AI) with media and regulation. Analysing both legislative and ethical solutions, chapters explore what "AI" and "accountability" mean in terms of media practices, principles, and power relations, as well as how to address the AI revolution with informed law and policy in order to incentivise accountable utilisation of AI and to reduce negative societal impacts. Offering ideas for further research in the area, this book is key reading for academics and researchers in the fields of information and media law, regulation, and technology law. It may also interest media law practitioners, with research-based guidance for everyday practices and tools to prepare for future developments in the area.

This insightful book discusses how states deploy frontier and digital technologies to manage and control migratory movements. Assessing the development of blockchain technologies for digital identities and cash transfer; artificial intelligence for smart borders, resettlement of refugees and assessing asylum applications; social media and mobile phone applications to track and surveil migrants, it critically examines the consequences of new technological developments and evaluates their impact on the rights of migrants and refugees. Chapters evaluate the technology-based public-private projects that govern migration globally and illustrate the political implications of these virtual borders. International contributors compare and contrast different forms of political expression, in both personal technologies, such as social media for refugees and smugglers, and automated decision-making algorithms used by states to enable migration governance. This timely book challenges hegemonic approach to migration governance and provides cases demonstrating the dangers of employing frontier technologies denying basic rights, liberties and agencies of migrants and refugees. Stepping into a contentious political climate for migrants and refugees, this provocative book is ideal reading for scholars and researchers of political science and public policy, particularly those focusing on migration and refugee studies. It will also benefit policymakers and practitioners dealing with migration, such as humanitarian NGOs, UN agencies and local authorities.

The Handbook on Socially Interactive Agents provides a comprehensive overview of the research fields of Embodied Conversational Agents Intelligent Virtual Agents and Social Robotics. Socially Interactive Agents (SIAs) whether virtually or physically embodied are autonomous agents that are able to perceive an environment including people or other agents reason decide how to interact and express attitudes such as emotions engagement or empathy. They are capable of interacting with people and one another in a socially intelligent manner using multimodal communicative behaviors with the goal to support humans in various domains.Written by international experts in their respective fields the book summarizes research in the many important research communities pertinent for SIAs while discussing current challenges and future directions. The handbook provides easy access to modeling and studying SIAs for researchers and students and aims at further bridging the gap between the research communities involved. In two volumes the book clearly structures the vast body of research. The first volume starts by introducing what is involved in SIAs research in particular research methodologies and ethical implications of developing SIAs. It further examines research on appearance and behavior focusing on multimodality. Finally social cognition for SIAs is investigated using different theoretical models and phenomena such as theory of mind or pro-sociality. The second volume starts with perspectives on interaction examined from different angles such as interaction in social space group interaction or long-term interaction. It also includes an extensive overview summarizing research and systems of human-agent platforms and of some of the major application areas of SIAs such as education aging support autism and games.

This incisive book provides a much-needed examination of the legal issues arising from the data economy, particularly in the light of the expanding role of algorithms and artificial intelligence in business and industry. In doing so, it discusses the pressing question of how to strike a balance in the law between the interests of a variety of stakeholders, such as AI industry, businesses and consumers. Investigating issues at the intersection of trade secrets and personal data as well as the potential legal conflicts to which this can give rise, Gintare Surblyte-Namaviciene examines what kinds of changes to the legal framework the growing data economy may require. Through an analysis of the way in which EU competition law may tackle algorithm-related problems the book also identifies a regulatory gap in the case of algorithmic manipulation in the business-to-consumer relationship. The book further argues that control by public bodies over terms and conditions often used in the data economy may be necessary for the sake of consumer protection. Scholars in competition law and regulatory governance, particularly those with an interest in the impacts of technology, will find this to be critical reading. It will also be beneficial to practitioners and policy makers working at the intersections of regulation and technology.

The Handbook on Socially Interactive Agents provides a comprehensive overview of the research fields of Embodied Conversational Agents Intelligent Virtual Agents and Social Robotics. Socially Interactive Agents (SIAs) whether virtually or physically embodied are autonomous agents that are able to perceive an environment including people or other agents reason decide how to interact and express attitudes such as emotions engagement or empathy. They are capable of interacting with people and one another in a socially intelligent manner using multimodal communicative behaviors with the goal to support humans in various domains.Written by international experts in their respective fields the book summarizes research in the many important research communities pertinent for SIAs while discussing current challenges and future directions. The handbook provides easy access to modeling and studying SIAs for researchers and students and aims at further bridging the gap between the research communities involved. In two volumes the book clearly structures the vast body of research. The first volume starts by introducing what is involved in SIAs research in particular research methodologies and ethical implications of developing SIAs. It further examines research on appearance and behavior focusing on multimodality. Finally social cognition for SIAs is investigated using different theoretical models and phenomena such as theory of mind or pro-sociality. The second volume starts with perspectives on interaction examined from different angles such as interaction in social space group interaction or long-term interaction. It also includes an extensive overview summarizing research and systems of human-agent platforms and of some of the major application areas of SIAs such as education aging support autism and games.

This insightful book provides a timely review of the potential threats of advertising technologies, or adtech. It highlights the need to protect internet users not only from privacy risks, but also as consumers and citizens online dealing with a highly complex technological setting. Jiahong Chen illustrates a concise overview of the technical, economic and legal aspects of adtech together with coverage of other important areas. These include: the ongoing debates around online advertising and data protection, an up-to-date analysis of the application of the GDPR, and insights into both the practices and theories of the regulation of data protection law. The book provides a clear picture of what is truly at stake with online advertising practices, concluding with a critical assessment of the current regime and a proposed approach to reform data protection laws. This book will provide essential reading for researchers and law students requiring an overview of the legal framework and current practices, alongside legal practitioners and policymakers evaluating the benefits and risks of data-driven technologies.

Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are recognized as the backbone of today's world economy. However, SMEs are well known for having limitations and acceptance barriers in adopting new technology even though the internet and communications channel's revolution has changed the way people conduct business today. Further, the COVID-19 pandemic has disturbed the operations of SMEs and increased the burden on social media application globally. It is essential that SMEs utilize social media to strengthen their performance. Strengthening SME Performance Through Social Media Adoption and Usage explores experiences in different technological, managerial, organizational, and entrepreneurial environmental issues. It focuses on different conceptions of factors and consequences influencing social media usage and SME performance. Covering topics such as corporate social responsibility, marketing frameworks, and social media adoption, this premier reference source is a valuable resource for entrepreneurs, business leaders and managers, human resource managers, marketers, consultants, students and educators of higher education, librarians, researchers, and academicians.

The path forward to rein in online surveillance, AI, and tech monopolies.

Technology is a gift and a curse. The five Big Tech companies―Meta, Apple, Amazon, Microsoft, and Google―have built innovative products that improve many aspects of our lives. But their intrusiveness and our dependence on them have created pressing threats to our civil rights, economy, and democracy.

Coming from an extensive background building Silicon Valley-based tech startups, Tom Kemp eloquently and precisely weaves together the threats posed by Big Tech:

• the overcollection and weaponization of our most sensitive data
• the problematic ways Big Tech uses AI to process and act upon our data
• the stifling of competition and entrepreneurship due to Big Tech's dominant market position

This richly detailed book exposes the consequences of Big Tech's digital surveillance, exploitative use of AI, and monopolistic and anticompetitive practices. It offers actionable solutions to these problems and a clear path forward for individuals and policymakers to advocate for change. By containing the excesses of Big Tech, we will ensure our civil rights are respected and preserved, our economy is competitive, and our democracy is protected.

Elgar Advanced Introductions are stimulating and thoughtful introductions to major fields in the social sciences and law, expertly written by the world's leading scholars. Designed to be accessible yet rigorous, they offer concise and lucid surveys of the substantive and policy issues associated with discrete subject areas. Woodrow Barfield and Ugo Pagallo present a succinct introduction to the legal issues related to the design and use of artificial intelligence (AI). Exploring human rights, constitutional law, data protection, criminal law, tort law, and intellectual property law, they consider the laws of a number of jurisdictions including the US, the European Union, Japan, and China, making reference to case law and statutes. Key features include: a critical insight into human rights and constitutional law issues which may be affected by the use of AI discussion of the concept of legal personhood and how the law might respond as AI evolves in intelligence an introduction to current laws and statutes which apply to AI and an identification of the areas where future challenges to the law may arise. This Advanced Introduction is ideal for law and social science students with an interest in how the law applies to AI. It also provides a useful entry point for legal practitioners seeking an understanding of this emerging field.

Do you feel overwhelmed by the AI wave? Worried that it could cost you your job, harm your business, or even take over? AI has pervaded our lives and is aggressively disrupting business. No person today can afford to ignore AI.

Age of Agency is your companion, helping you leverage AI's capabilities to power your productivity and success. By understanding AI, you will learn to use it as a tool for personal career growth and business success.

Former Microsoft executive Kerushan Govender demystifies AI, emphasising the importance of human agency. Reconnect with the needs of humanity and learn the importance of care as a differentiator in an AI world. Avoid the potential pitfalls of excessive reliance on the technology.

Age of Agency is a blueprint for ensuring human agency outpaces computer agency. It boldly pits the limits of machine learning against the infinity of human ability. With this survival guide, you’ll uncover ways to connect with humanity on a deeper level, going beyond anything AI can do.

Ready to become AI-savvy, with your humanity as your differentiator? Dive into the future with the confidence to ride the wave of today’s AI revolution.

Digital Platforms and Global Law focuses on digital platforms and identifies their relevant legal profiles in terms of transnational and international law. It qualifies digital platforms as private legal orders, which exercise the legislative, executive, and (para)jurisdictional power within them. Starting from this assumption, the author studies the relationship between these orders and state, transnational, and international orders. The book first explores the reasons for the inadequacy of the current regulatory matrix and goes on to detail the need for a new paradigm; a shift from the current matrix of market regulation to one of negotiation. The author then examines the lack of effectiveness of current tools and explores how better versions, tools of uniform law, are emerging. This unique exploration will appeal to governments, regulatory authorities, digital platforms, businesses, and students and will find further audience with policy makers and practitioners.

Edward Snowden, the man who risked everything to expose the US government’s system of mass surveillance, reveals for the first time the story of his life, including how he helped to build that system and what motivated him to try to bring it down.

In 2013, twenty-nine-year-old Edward Snowden shocked the world when he broke with the American intelligence establishment and revealed that the United States government was secretly pursuing the means to collect every single phone call, text message, and email. The result would be an unprecedented system of mass surveillance with the ability to pry into the private lives of every person on earth. Six years later, Snowden reveals for the very first time how he helped to build this system and why he was moved to expose it.

Spanning the bucolic Beltway suburbs of his childhood and the clandestine CIA and NSA postings of his adulthood, Permanent Record is the extraordinary account of a bright young man who grew up online – a man who became a spy, a whistleblower, and, in exile, the Internet’s conscience. Written with wit, grace, passion, and an unflinching candor, Permanent Record is a crucial memoir of our digital age and destined to be a classic.

Digital Forensics and Cyber Investigation equips students, law enforcement officers, government employees, business employees, and cybersecurity practitioners with the competencies and fundamental knowledge base they need to tackle issues involving cybercrime and cyber investigations. The book introduces readers to process of conducting successful forensic examinations of digital devices and computer networks through hands-on practice and comprehensive exploration of cyber-investigation techniques. Over the course of 15 chapters, readers gain foundational knowledge on cybercrime-focused digital forensics and develop their ability to apply this knowledge to cybercrime cases. Opening chapters examine computer ethics in cybercrime investigation and cybersecurity practice, the basics of information technology, mobile forensics, and email evidence and analysis. In additional chapters, students learn about electronic vandalism, phishing scams, geo-localization and cyberspace detection, and dark web investigation. They are provided with historical overviews and proven frameworks for developing strategic plans to counter cybersecurity and cyberterrorism attempts and attacks. Providing readers with essential, timely knowledge, Digital Forensics is an ideal resource for students and practitioners in the fields of digital forensics and cybercrime investigation.