The Private Is Political: Identity and Democracy in the Age of Surveillance Capitalism

Brescia (research and intellectual life, Albany Law Sch.; Lawyer Nation) argues that privacy is essential to liberal democracies, but it has a detrimental effect on political participation when there is infringement. Privacy enables citizens to explore their identities, which Brescia argues is the basis for advocating for change and social movements. He asserts that people are less likely to engage politically if they feel they are being surveilled. Existing privacy protections, however, only cover government interference, not that done by private companies that gather user information for profit. The book utilizes theories of social movements to investigate privacy and identity problems and examine the role of institutions in protecting privacy. Brescia argues that change is needed in the market, political process, and courts if privacy is to be effectively protected. The book clearly defines and explains concepts and provides examples. It closes by offering suggestions for addressing privacy using a framework derived from zoning rules. That includes benefits for its adoption, proposals for managing desired protections, and recommendations for readers to advocate for digital privacy laws.