Bruce Schneier has written another reasoned, balanced, well-documented, and very readable book.

Part 1, “The World We’re Creating,” starts with the observation that computing in its many guises produces a tremendous amount of data and metadata as a byproduct. The vast amount of data collected is used for automated, hidden mass surveillance by both corporations and governments. Using techniques of data mining, a great deal of information can be gleaned about individuals.

Part 2, “What’s at Stake,” looks at the harm caused by mass surveillance: government mass surveillance endangers political liberty and justice; uncontrolled corporate surveillance allows us to be manipulated; US businesses suffer economic harm; privacy is lost; and security is compromised.

Part 3, “What to Do About It,” starts with a chapter on general principles about surveillance and how it should be dealt with, followed by a chapter on general policy recommendations for governments and a chapter on regulations for the private collection and use of data. The next chapter gives advice on how we the people can defend against surveillance and work to effect change. The last chapter, “Social Norms and the Big Data Trade-Off,” discusses how our attitudes will have to change if we are to move beyond a surveillance society. This chapter makes clear the challenges we face and the immense potential benefits if we get it right.

The tone of this book is not anti-computer, anti-technology, anti-Internet, or even anti-surveillance. It is cautiously hopeful. The author clearly acknowledges that the Internet and the Information Age have greatly benefited society. He also makes the case that the dangers of mass surveillance are very real. Schneier is a voice of reason and balance. This very readable book is recommended both for the general reader and for computing professionals and students. One should note that there are several other discussions of this book on Computing Reviews [1,2,3].

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