The Ethics of Privacy and Surveillance
Published on 19. January 2024
Book
Hardback
250 pages
978-0-19-887017-3 (ISBN)
Description
Privacy matters because it shields us from possible abuses of power. Human beings need privacy just as much as they need community. Our need for socialization brings with it risks and burdens which in turn give rise to the need for spaces and time away from others. To impose surveillance upon someone is an act of domination. The foundations of democracy quiver under surveillance.
Given how important privacy is for individual and collective wellbeing, it is striking that it has not enjoyed a more central place in philosophy. The philosophical literature on privacy and surveillance is still very limited compared to that on justice, autonomy, or equality-and yet the former plays a role in protecting all three values. Perhaps philosophers haven't attended much to privacy because for most of the past two centuries there have been strong enough privacy norms in place and not enough invasive technologies. Privacy worked for most people most of the time, which made thinking about it unnecessary. It's when things stop working that the philosopher's attention is most easily caught-the owl of Minerva spreading its wings only with impending dusk.
With the spread of machine learning, a kind of AI that often uses vast amounts of personal data, and a whole industry dedicated to the trade of personal data becoming one of the most popular business models of the 21st century, it's time for philosophy to look more closely at privacy.
This book is intended to contribute to a better understanding of privacy from a philosophical point of view-what it is, what is at stake in its loss, and how it relates to other rights and values. The five parts that compose this book respond to five basic questions about privacy: Where does privacy come from? What is privacy? Why does privacy matter? What should we do about privacy? Where are we now?
Given how important privacy is for individual and collective wellbeing, it is striking that it has not enjoyed a more central place in philosophy. The philosophical literature on privacy and surveillance is still very limited compared to that on justice, autonomy, or equality-and yet the former plays a role in protecting all three values. Perhaps philosophers haven't attended much to privacy because for most of the past two centuries there have been strong enough privacy norms in place and not enough invasive technologies. Privacy worked for most people most of the time, which made thinking about it unnecessary. It's when things stop working that the philosopher's attention is most easily caught-the owl of Minerva spreading its wings only with impending dusk.
With the spread of machine learning, a kind of AI that often uses vast amounts of personal data, and a whole industry dedicated to the trade of personal data becoming one of the most popular business models of the 21st century, it's time for philosophy to look more closely at privacy.
This book is intended to contribute to a better understanding of privacy from a philosophical point of view-what it is, what is at stake in its loss, and how it relates to other rights and values. The five parts that compose this book respond to five basic questions about privacy: Where does privacy come from? What is privacy? Why does privacy matter? What should we do about privacy? Where are we now?
Reviews / Votes
Carissa Veliz has done a terrific job in The Ethics of Privacy and Surveillance. Undoubtedly, Veliz's novel account of privacy will be a center of attention in the literature for the years to come. And there is really no better point of entry if you want to get a better understanding of the rich literature on privacy and the problem it has aimed at tackling. We therefore warmly recommend The Ethics of Privacy and Surveillance. * Lauritz Munch and Jakob Mainz, Journal of Moral Philosophy * In conclusion, Veliz's book is a timely and essential read that capably bridges the abstract philosophical discourse with the tangible realities of our digital lives.It is a book that deserves to be read, discussed, and acted upon without delay. * Rita Patricio Gomes, AI and Ethics * Veliz's work is a significant addition to the canon of privacy scholarship. The Ethics of Privacy and Surveillance is a thoughtful and well-researched examination of the ethical dimensions of privacy and surveillance, offering a compelling call to action to safeguard this fundamental human right in an increasingly digitized world. * Saloni Kumar, Surveillance & Society * In The Ethics of Privacy and Surveillance, Carissa Veliz presents a comprehensive philosophical exploration of privacy in the digital age. This timely and thought provoking book delves into the fundamentalquestions surrounding privacy, its value, and its relationship with surveillance. Veliz's work is an essential read for anyone concernedwith the erosion of privacy in the 21st century and its implications for individuals, society and democracy. * Ardi Kolah, Journal of Data Protection & Privacy * Veliz's book emerges as an indispensable guide to navigating these uncharted waters with our rights intact. It is a book that deserves to be read, discussed, and acted upon without delay. * Rita Patricio Gomes, Springer * With clear and cogent reasoning, Veliz (Univ. of Oxford, England) provides a detailed, robust explanation of privacy that can inform sensible policy formulation. The book is a great example of the power and relevance of applied ethics. Readers may argue with some of the author's conclusions, but this work seems likely to be a touchstone for future work defending privacy as a basic right. * D. Bantz, CHOICE *More details
Series
Language
English
Place of publication
Oxford
United Kingdom
Target group
Professional and scholarly
Dimensions
Height: 238 mm
Width: 158 mm
Thickness: 22 mm
Weight
520 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-19-887017-3 (9780198870173)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions
Carissa Véliz
The Ethics of Privacy and Surveillance
E-Book
01/2024
1st Edition
OUP eBook
€25.99
Available for download
Carissa Véliz
The Ethics of Privacy and Surveillance
E-Book
12/2023
1st Edition
OUP eBook
€25.99
Available for download
Person
Carissa Veliz is an Associate Professor in Philosophy at the Institute for Ethics in AI, and a Fellow at Hertford College at the University of Oxford. She is the recipient of the 2021 Herbert A. Simon Award for Outstanding Research in Computing and Philosophy. She is the author of the highly-acclaimed Privacy Is Power (an Economist book of the year, 2020) and the editor of the Oxford Handbook of Digital Ethics. She advises institutions and policymakers around the world on privacy and the ethics of AI.
Content
Introduction Part One: Where Does Privacy Come From? 1: The Animalistic Origins of Privacy 2: Etymology, History, and Anthropology of Privacy Part Two: What Is Privacy? 3: Privacy, the Public, and the Private 4: Ten Accounts of Privacy-And Their Shortcomings 5: The Hybrid Account of Privacy 6: The Epistemology of Privacy Part Three: Why Does Privacy Matter? 7: The Value of Privacy 8: The Value of Surveillance 9: Privacy vs Surveillance Part Four: What Should We Do About Privacy? 10: The Right to (Robust) Privacy 11: Privacy Duties 12: Privacy Deceptions Part Five: Where Are We Now? 13: Privacy in the 21st Century Conclusion Acknowledgements References Index