The Digital Person

(NYU Press 2004)

This book examines the threat to privacy caused by the gathering of personal information in gigantic computer databases. Massive quantities of data about individuals are being used to make important decisions in their lives, and the government is increasingly tapping into companies’ databases to monitor and profile people. The Digital Person examines why these developments are problematic and why the law has thus far failed to respond adequately. The book proposes a framework for effective regulation of data collection and use.