Privacy on the internet is challenged in a wide variety of ways - from large social media companies, whose entire business models are based on privacy invasion, through the developing technologies of facial recognition, to the desire of governments to monitor our every activity online. But the impact these issues have on our daily lives is often underplayed or misunderstood. In this book, Paul Bernal analyses how the internet became what it is today, exploring how the current manifestation of the internet works for people, for companies and even for governments, with reference to the new privacy battlefields of location and health data, the internet of things and the increasingly contentious issue of personal data and political manipulation. The author then proposes what we should do about the problems surrounding internet privacy, such as significant changes in government policy, a reversal of the current 'war' on encryption, being brave enough to take on the internet giants, and challenging the idea that 'real names' would improve the discourse on social networks. ABOUT THE SERIES: The 'What Do We Know and What Should We Do About...?' series offers readers short, up-to-date overviews of key issues often misrepresented, simplified or misunderstood in modern society and the media. Each book is written by a leading social scientist with an established reputation in the relevant subject area. The Series Editor is Professor Chris Grey, Royal Holloway, University of London

Privacy on the internet is challenged in a wide variety of ways - from large social media companies, whose entire business models are based on privacy invasion, through the developing technologies of facial recognition, to the desire of governments to monitor our every activity online. But the impact these issues have on our daily lives is often underplayed or misunderstood. In this book, Paul Bernal analyses how the internet became what it is today, exploring how the current manifestation of the internet works for people, for companies and even for governments, with reference to the new privacy battlefields of location and health data, the internet of things and the increasingly contentious issue of personal data and political manipulation. The author then proposes what we should do about the problems surrounding internet privacy, such as significant changes in government policy, a reversal of the current 'war' on encryption, being brave enough to take on the internet giants, and challenging the idea that 'real names' would improve the discourse on social networks. ABOUT THE SERIES: The 'What Do We Know and What Should We Do About...?' series offers readers short, up-to-date overviews of key issues often misrepresented, simplified or misunderstood in modern society and the media. Each book is written by a leading social scientist with an established reputation in the relevant subject area. The Series Editor is Professor Chris Grey, Royal Holloway, University of London

The Internet, Warts and All asks questions. Why are government digital policies so often out of touch and counter-productive? Why is surveillance law problematic and ineffective - and often defeated in court? Do companies like Google and Facebook really care about freedom of speech? Why are neither laws nor technology companies able to get to grips with trolling? Is 'fake news' something that can be 'dealt with'? Can these issues be addressed more effectively, intelligently and appropriately in the future? To answer these questions, The Internet, Warts and All busts a number of myths and illusions about the internet - about the neutrality of algorithms, the permanence of information, the impact of surveillance, the nature of privacy and more. It shows how trolling and 'fake news' arise - and why current moves to deal with them are doomed to failure. It suggests a way forward - by embracing the unruly nature of the internet.

Internet Privacy Rights analyses the current threats to our online autonomy and privacy and proposes a new model for the gathering, retention and use of personal data. Key to the model is the development of specific privacy rights: a right to roam the internet with privacy, a right to monitor the monitors, a right to delete personal data and a right to create, assert and protect an online identity. These rights could help in the formulation of more effective and appropriate legislation, and shape more privacy-friendly business models. The conclusion examines how the internet might look with these rights in place and whether such an internet could be sustainable from both a governmental and a business perspective.