Daniel J. Solove (George Washington U Law) has posted “On Privacy and Technology (excerpt)” (Daniel J. Solove, ON PRIVACY AND TECHNOLOGY (Oxford University Press 2025)) on SSRN. Here is the abstract:
This is an except from Daniel J. Solove’s book, ON PRIVACY AND TECHNOLOGY (Oxford University Press 2025). The book discusses the profound changes technology is wreaking upon privacy, why these changes matter, and what can be done about them.
Drawing from a quarter-century of thinking, teaching, and writing about privacy law, Solove explores the important questions: Can privacy law keep up with rapidly changing digital technologies? Is it possible to protect privacy in the age of AI?
Solove argues that the answers to these questions are yes, but only if privacy law takes a radical new direction. Weaving together philosophy, literature, and the humanities with concrete practical knowledge, ON PRIVACY AND TECHNOLOGY tackles issues such as control, manipulation, automation, consent, and reputation, offering a new and provocative perspective on privacy.
In this excerpt, Solove explores the meaning and importance of privacy, including the societal value of privacy. He debunks several myths that stand in the way of effective regulation such as (1) the myth of the privacy paradox, (2) the myth of technology exceptionalism, (3) the myth that regulation stifles innovation, (4) the myth that changes in degree don’t matter, (5) the myth that the law is an interloper, and (6) the myth of technology neutrality.
Solove argues that for various technological changes affecting privacy, the law often not only fails to address them adequately but also contributes to the problems. Many of the problems stem not directly from technology but from prevailing views and myths about technology and privacy.