Customer Reviews

The End of Privacy: How Total Surveillance Is Becoming a Reality

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I save a lot of money using coupons, I always fill out and return warranty cards. I have found myself the recipient of mail I did not solicit and offers that seem to exhibit more about me than I am comfortable with. It seems almost like rape. What amazes me is that Mr. Whitaker (is this a guy thing?) seems to believe it will all be okay-that we won't end up like Winston Smith in 1984, because the power of government is "de-centralizing and power is shifting to the "market". Well, I never get invited to the Whitehouse, and Presidents don't take vacations in my home, or play golf with my husband (Art-my husband-is a scratch golfer-I'd like to see that actually). I don't like what is happening, I cannot answer for anyone else. It is frightening to have Mr. Whitaker state that this seems to be an issue of little concern. I beg to differ. Maybe I'm no Claire Wolfe but I can sure tell my friends to read this book and see what they think. I bet they feel like I do. I'll be telling them to check out Jerry Furland's "Transfer" too.

"The End of Privacy" is profound. This is a non-judgemental, clear-eyed view of modern culture woven into a rich tapestry depicting a continuum of both governance and commerce over time. For the inhabitants of the modern technological ant hill, the "End of Privacy" is an indictment as well as an apologia for the human condition. Surprisingly, for Americans who live a myth of individualism the author argues that individual privacy-the right to be left alone-as a political issue is a non-starter. Inclusion and exclusion, yin and yang outcomes that will affect all of humanity eventually, in fact must be apportioned to satisfy numerous risk aversive objectives in both private (for profit) and public (for governance and control) agendas.

We are what we are. Claiming otherwise would be disingenuous at best. This is a deeply troubling book. Explore for yourself how we are manipulated and ultimately controlled. Having done so, one may ask if we are even able to define what freedom is. Perhaps we have lost everything we once held sacred without even holding a debate.

Jerry Furland, author of "Transfer-the end of the beginning"

I bought this book because an author I have read who was recommended on a online news site also recommended Reg Whitaker. I was amazed to see that everything I had learned by reading a novel, "Transfer" by Jerry Furland was for real. I am getting a serious case of the shakes here. I thought "Transfer" was just another book about near term events that may or may not be accurate. Not anymore. I am convinced. Read this book. Get smart about where we are headed. Tell your friends and colleagues too.

Imagine my surprise when I picked up _The End to Privacy_ only to find that it offers nearly the identical thesis contained in my book _The Culture of Surveillance_ (St.Martin's Press) published more than two years ago. One would think that Professor Whitaker would have at least reviewed the literature before penning this obviously redundant book.

Mr. Whitaker has done a fine job of increasing my awareness of surveillance and how it can affect my every day life. I have become more careful about the information that I disclose and to whom I disclose it. While computers and computerization are a large part of the surveillance industry, I felt that more time could have been spent on other types of privacy theft and less on cyber voyerism. Overall, I believe that the book served its purpose, assisting me in my professional and private life. Again, I believe too much ink was spent on the computer aspect of surveillance.

I think Reg Whitaker did an excellent job in descriving how our privacy can be infringed on a daily basis. The best part is the second chapter, where he explains that the digitalization and the creation of databases are the main 2 causes of "the end of privacy"

The book was very thought provoking. However, there seemed to be some factual errors when discussing intelligence-related topics that he might have cleared up with a little homework. It amazes me that so little is actually being published on this topic when it will dramatically (and irrevocably?) alter our own sense of who we are and how we fit into society.