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5th out of 15 books
—
7 voters
Consent of the Networked: The Worldwide Struggle For Internet Freedom
The Internet was going to liberate us, but in truth it has not. For every story about the web’s empowering role in events such as the Arab Spring, there are many more about the quiet corrosion of civil liberties by companies and governments using the same digital technologies we have come to depend upon.Sudden changes in Facebook’s features and privacy settings have expose...more
Hardcover, 320 pages
Published
January 31st 2012
by Basic Books
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It's not surprising that some of this book is already dated, or that additional examples of how we, the networked, are giving over consent to the ISPs and companies. It's also not surprising that Ms. MacKinnon, a reporter formerly based in China, would go into much detail about how the Chinese regime controls the network and access. The result, however, is a book that is starting to feel a little dated (nothing about Google's new "one policy/one login serves all" policy or about Salman Rushdie's...more
This is a wide ranging survey of the myriad issues facing the free flow of information in a networked world. It includes numerous examples of threats from democracies, autocracies and corporate boardrooms. (Intriguing is the concept of China's networked authoritarianism). It looks at how copyright can and is used to stifle free speech. It looks at the problem of sovereignty on a global internet. It looks into what ethical responsibilities of companies like Google, Yahoo and Twitter have, and exp...more
again, not a "review" (who cares what i think anyway- ha!) rather i will list some notes from the book,
which is about one of the major issues of our time,
a time in which the web has become the closest thing to a functioning public square that we have.
and so worth time and research toundrstand.
http://consentofthenetworked.com/
"The Filter Bubble" by Eli Pariser
"The Googlization of Everything", Siva Vaidhyanathan
"the Future of Power", Joseph Nye
The Master Switch: The Rise and Fall of Information...more
which is about one of the major issues of our time,
a time in which the web has become the closest thing to a functioning public square that we have.
and so worth time and research toundrstand.
http://consentofthenetworked.com/
"The Filter Bubble" by Eli Pariser
"The Googlization of Everything", Siva Vaidhyanathan
"the Future of Power", Joseph Nye
The Master Switch: The Rise and Fall of Information...more
In the era of SOPA, PIPA, warrantless wiretapping, for-profit social media sites and more, this is a must-read book.
In the U.S., Europe, China, Iran and elsewhere, Rebecca MacKinnon tackles issues that boi down to the need for an "Internet bill of rights," sometimes vis-a-vis big government, and sometimes vis-a-vis big business. She also notes some of the conundrums this involves, like big government trying to regulate big business, western Internet-related companies selling equipment (Cisco and...more
In the U.S., Europe, China, Iran and elsewhere, Rebecca MacKinnon tackles issues that boi down to the need for an "Internet bill of rights," sometimes vis-a-vis big government, and sometimes vis-a-vis big business. She also notes some of the conundrums this involves, like big government trying to regulate big business, western Internet-related companies selling equipment (Cisco and...more
The author does an excellent job describing the intricacies and complexities of the internet as it impacts the quality of life for people all over the world. It made me aware of the power players in this new frontier - political entities and mega businesses, and the tension between each one serving their own self-interest as compared to what is good for humanity. I am grateful for the watchdogs who expose the manipulations in controlling information and demand ethical applications as they create...more
Great survey of the major issues regarding Internet freedom and the many overlapping concerns of privacy, censorship, human rights, and transparency. While it covers a lot of territory the author manages to keep it readable and focused. Serves as a solid introduction to these important issues. (See also Morozov's "Net Delusion" and the somewhat dated but still helpful "Anarchist in the Library" by Vaidhyanathan).
This is part depressing picture of the current status of human rights and privacy concerns on the internet, and part a call to arms to all current 'netizens' to take up responsibility to protect those rights. This book asks a lot of its readers, and doesn't offer any easy answers (hardly any answers at all, actually), but it does make important points that we should be aware of and concerned about. Not a fun read, but an important on.e
Well done and extensive. MacKinnon hits all of the key issues and locales: China, Washington D.C., the streets of the Arab spring. This is very much much a piece of advocacy journalism (and one I'm on side with) but also nuanced and fair about the strategic and policy challenges facing corporations, NGOs, activists and democratic governments. A great and look at a rapidly evolving issue
Dated already, but that's to be expected in this field.
It is still a scary wake up call for all responsible citizens of the internet.
Some reviews suggest it lacks 'answers to the tough questions'. I'd say it has a few pretty good ones, but they are 'long haul' rather than 'quick fix'.
Preaching to the choir too probably, although that's hardly a fault of the book.
Very easy to read and very interesting. Recommended.
It is still a scary wake up call for all responsible citizens of the internet.
Some reviews suggest it lacks 'answers to the tough questions'. I'd say it has a few pretty good ones, but they are 'long haul' rather than 'quick fix'.
Preaching to the choir too probably, although that's hardly a fault of the book.
Very easy to read and very interesting. Recommended.
I'm trying to add some non-fiction to my reading diet and picked this one off the new books shelf. I think I understand the problems better, but I'm not sure what I need to do as part of the solution. Perhaps just keep my head down and subvert the dominant paradigm.
Una buena descripción de la situación que hoy enfrentan las libertades civiles en Internet. Un libro para entender no solo las posibilidades de expresión, sino sobre todo los riesgos de control de nuestras libertades por parte de los gobiernos.
Rebecca knows what she is talking about. For those of us who came to know her during her time as a Berkman Fellow, her insights on the people who have disproportionate influence in our wired world should come as no surprise.
This is a very good, important, terrifying, clear, necessary, chilling book that is written with about as much panache as a kitchen appliance manual. Parts of it are so thrilling and awful! Parts of it are so hard to get through.
Loved it! I strongly recommend it to anyone who cares about freedom and/or the internet = basically EVERYONE.
Close to an ideal introduction to issues of Internet regulation. Balanced discussion of the dangers to an open Internet, may they come from cooperations and governments (democratic or non-democratic) and possible remedies. Highly readable with illustrating anecdotes and helpful examples. Should be mandatory reading for politicians tasked with Internet policy.
Everyone who is using, has used, or ever will use the Interwebs should read this book.
Apr 26, 2012
meredith ann
marked it as unfinished
i really wanted to like this but i found nothing engaging about the text and the author's style. it felt hastily thrown together and haphazardly designed; i didn't even get past page 150.
I really wanted to like this book, and to learn from it. I'm not sure, maybe it was the writing style, but I lost interest rather quickly. Too much politics, not enough worthwhile information. Tedious in it's attempt to provide historical relevance.
I tend to prefer fiction so it's taking me a while to get through this non-fiction book. It's still on my currently reading list; however, I'm not currently reading it :) Hopefully, I'll get back to it when I'm in the right head space.
May 21, 2013
Vijai
marked it as to-read
May 18, 2013
Purple Boots
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May 17, 2013
Neil Cotter
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May 16, 2013
Michelle
is currently reading it
May 13, 2013
Kristi
marked it as to-read
May 13, 2013
Jonathan
marked it as to-read
May 13, 2013
Khamis
marked it as to-read
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Sep 01, 2012 11:15pm