Monitor: extinguishing privacy on the information superhighway

by Simon Davies

Much of Australia's economic future has been entrusted to an ambitious master-plan called the Information Superhighway. It is said to be our Yellow Brick Road to a prosperous future, and is set to liberate information, revolutionize employment and re-invigorate the economy.

But the Superhighway has a different destination in store. In this disturbing investigation, Simon Davies shows how the Superhighway will be disastrous for Australia. As a blueprint for cultural and economic change, the Superhighway is badly flawed. It is time, says Davies, for a critical and intelligent debate about who controls this technology, and where it is taking us/

262 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1996

Reviews

[Robert · Rating 2 out of 5]

Being written back in 1996 this book has probable become quite dated as the surveillance topics discussed have only become more powerful. Many of the issues surrounding privacy still remain and in many cases additional threats have arisen.

The book I feel tended to be a once sided examination of the issues and didn't really go into depth about the technologies or the reasons behind the issues. It tended to rail against how the new technology is being abused by governments and the like, which is still very valid. However, this lack of a balanced examination of the facts greatly reduces its appeal as source of information on privacy in the current age.

Given its now dated content and the writers one-eyed obsession I don't believe the book has much to contribute in the current privacy debate except to rehash old issues which most people are now well aware of.