Overview

Privacy is one of the most contested concepts of our time. This book sets out a rigorous and comprehensive framework for understanding debates about privacy and our rights to it. Much of the conflict around privacy comes from a failure to recognise divergent perspectives. Some people argue about human rights, some about social conventions, others about individual preferences and still others about information and data processing. As a result, 'privacy' has become the focus of competing definitions, leading some to denounce the 'disarray' in the field. But as this book shows, disagreements about the role and value of privacy obscure a large amount of agreement on the topic. Privacy is not a technical term of law, cybersecurity or sociology, but a word in common use that adequately expresses a few simple and related ideas.

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9781526163035

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Reviews

"‘How should we talk about privacy? Before you answer that question, read this book.’ Woodrow Hartzog, author of Privacy’s Blueprint ‘O’Hara gives us a refreshingly provocative, learned, distinctive and lively book about privacy that will stimulate important debates.’ Charles Raab, editor of Surveillance and Democracy ‘O’Hara sorts and sifts the different claims for what is and what is not ""privacy”. I wish I had access to this excellent survey when I started out as UK Information Commissioner.’ Christopher Graham, UK Information Commissioner, 2009–16 -- ."

"‘How should we talk about privacy? Before you answer that question, read this book.’ Woodrow Hartzog, author of Privacy’s Blueprint ‘O’Hara gives us a refreshingly provocative, learned, distinctive and lively book about privacy that will stimulate important debates.’ Charles Raab, Professor Emeritus, University of Edinburgh ‘O’Hara sorts and sifts the different claims for what is and what is not ""privacy”. I wish I had access to this excellent survey when I started out as UK Information Commissioner.’ Christopher Graham, UK Information Commissioner, 2009–16 'A highly informative book for readers who want to understand privacy through its value, definition, usage and context. Readers will get a stronger sense of what privacy is – and what it is not – by reflecting on the context of the topic, ranging from the personal level to societal realms. Kieron O’Hara sets out to solve the problem of defining privacy by examining its historical and various cultural understandings.' Kat Fuller, The Sociological Review -- ."

‘An impressively thorough and systematic – but always accessible – analysis. O'Hara sorts and sifts the different claims for what is and what is not “privacy”. O Privacy, what crimes are committed in thy name! But O'Hara! What fun you've had finding a way through the muddles and misunderstandings to establish a common language for discussing privacy. I wish I'd had access to Kieron O'Hara's excellent survey when I started out as UK Information Commissioner back in 2009. O'Hara's razor should help us to approach debates around public policy on their own merits, avoiding using “privacy” as a mere label either to support or oppose particular causes or proposals.” Christopher Graham, UK Information Commissioner, 2009–16 ‘O’Hara gives us a refreshingly provocative, learned, distinctive and lively book about privacy that will stimulate important debates. The vast, unwieldy body of privacy scholarship is seen through new lenses, bringing seven different levels of privacy discourse into focus. Each one veils the meaning of privacy, but all contribute to a new framework that helps to make sense of the supposed “chaos” of this subject. Illustrative discussions of seven important privacy topics and debates are related to the sevenfold framework. O’Hara’s examples and personal style keep the reader in mind along the intricate trail of de (or re)constructive analysis, and a fascinating conclusion affords important insights into privacy by refracting the analysis through the COVID-19 pandemic experience.’ Charles Raab, Professor Emeritus, University of Edinburgh ‘How should we talk about privacy? Before you answer that question, read this book. The seven veils of privacy is deep and erudite, yet accessible and even humorous. O’Hara takes us on a deeply researched and compelling journey through the points of disagreement in our privacy discourse. This book helps us understand why we keep talking past each other and how to have a more productive conversation about one of the most critical values of our time.’ Woodrow Hartzog, Professor of Law, Boston University and author of Privacy’s Blueprint: The Battle to Control the Design of New Technologies -- .

Author Information

Kieron O'Hara is an Emeritus Fellow in Electronics and Computer Science at the University of Southampton.

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