The Electronic Privacy Papers: Documents on the Battle for Privacy in the Age of Surveillance [Hardcover]

Bruce Schneier (Author), David Banisar (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0471122971 | ISBN-13: 978-0471122975 | Publication Date: August 25, 1997 | Edition: 1

A collection of previously unreleased documents dealing with privacy in the Information Age.

Trying to keep up with the advancements in cryptography and digital telephony, the government has advocated controversial new tools that will allow them to monitor electronic communications. On the other side of the spectrum, privacy advocates are vehemently opposed to any government monitoring whatsoever. This book is a carefully selected and annotated collection of documents from both the government and the industry, enabling readers to fully understand governmental policies and how these will impact individuals and companies involved with the Internet.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

While most books on privacy and security issues in cyberspace simply give accounts of debates on the issues, The Electronic Privacy Papers documents the war--practically salvo by salvo. Authors Schneier and Banisar present the actual government and industry documents, which cover both legal and technical matters. The information includes research reports on the value of wiretaps, influential speeches and articles, and actual legislation that has gone before Congress. Many of the government documents, although legally available to the public through the Freedom of Information Act, were improperly kept secret until several lawsuits eventually forced their release. These "hidden" papers exhibit the FBI's push for government access to all electronic communications, report on how increased government access could also increase the opportunities for computer crime, and record the conflict between those who favor private encryption technology and those who'd make illegal encryption systems that don't allow government agencies access to decryption keys. Legislation and Supreme Court decisions on these disputes are also presented. This book will give you a clear understanding of both sides of the debate and will provide insight into the strategies that both government and privacy advocates use in attempt to achieve their desired result.

From Library Journal

This is not an academically neutral book on the subject of privacy. Both Schneier and Banisar are security and privacy advocates of long standing, and they like to refer to the information superhighway as the information "snooperhighway." Here, they have collected previously classified documents from both government and industry sources. Coverage includes digital wiretapping, E-mail security, cryptography, the National Security Administration's perspective on telecommunications, the clipper chip, softkey escrow, and much more. Recommended for all libraries.
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 747 pages
• Publisher: Wiley; 1 edition (August 25, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0471122971
• ISBN-13: 978-0471122975
• Product Dimensions: 9.4 x 7.6 x 2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.6 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,526,409 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Bruce Schneier is the go-to security expert for business leaders and policy makers. His breakthrough book Applied Cryptography (1994, 1998) explained how the arcane science of secret codes actually works, and was described by Wired as "the book the National Security Agency wanted never to be published." His business-oriented bestseller Secrets and Lies (2000) was called by Fortune "[a] jewel box of little surprises you can actually use." Best known as a refreshingly candid and lucid security critic and commentator, he has appeared in numerous media outlets, including The New York Times, USA Today, Newsweek, and The Wall Street Journal, as well as on NPR, CNN, and the major networks. He has also testified on security before the United States Congress.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent books for the goal in mind, December 28, 1997

By A Customer

This review is from: The Electronic Privacy Papers: Documents on the Battle for Privacy in the Age of Surveillance (Hardcover)

Probably the only book to date that is current (as current, of course, as it can be) with documents and notes letting the reader know where our goverments policies stand, and as such, letting the public know as well. There are no more assumptions to be made, the documents are laid out in the book for all to see and read. A nice change of pace from traditional analysis of algorithms, instead, the reader gets to see for him/herself just how the U.S. goverment is applying them and the legislation on it.