The Governance of Privacy: Policy Instruments in Global Perspective

by Colin J. Bennett, Charles D. Raab

This book offers a broad and incisive analysis of the governance of privacy protection with regard to personal information in contemporary advanced industrial states. Based on research across many countries, it discusses the goals of privacy protection policy and the changing discourse surrounding the privacy issue, concerning risk, trust and social values. It analyzes at length the contemporary policy instruments that together comprise the inventory of possible solutions to the problem of privacy protection. It argues that privacy protection depends upon an integration of these instruments, but that any country's efforts are inescapably linked with the actions of others that operate outside its borders. The book concludes that, in a 'globalizing' world, this regulatory interdependence could lead either to a search for the highest possible standard of privacy protection, or to competitive deregulation, or to a more complex outcome reflecting the nature of the issue and its policy responses.

257 pages, Hardcover

First published September 25, 2003

Reviews

[Justin Lahey · Rating 4 out of 5]

As usual, full disclosure upfront. This was read for academic purposes. I dreaded reading it given the title and subject matter. But I ended up being pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed it. Of course, it was a bit dry at times. Overall, I found that Bennett and Raab did a great job of not only offering an overview of the challenges involved in trying to govern privacy, but they also provided several very useful takeaways in terms of considerations moving forward. Ironically, although this book was originally published in 2003, and even though some of its content is a bit dated, it is quite surprising how much of it is still very much applicable and useful. A great example that you can find useful information in older policy guidance books!