Copyright American Library Association dba CHOICE Dec 200543-2252 HM851 2004-56397 CIP O'Harrow, Robert, Jr. No place to hide. Free Press, 2005. 348pbibl index ISBN 0743254805, $26.00
With the events of September 11, 2001, and the subsequent enactment of the Patriot Act as a backdrop, O'Harrow (Washington Post) examines a large number of private-sector data-gathering and surveillance companies in a consistently engaging and overall balanced manner. Frequent interviews and/or profiles of computer program developers, industry officials, and to a lesser extent, government officials, offer some insight into the private data-gathering market. O'Harrow offers several examples to support his assertion that information gathered by private-sector companies has begun to supplant the traditional "sixth sense" of law enforcement and intelligence agency officials. Investigations into the misuse of private data illustrate the potentially negative impact of lax data security standards. The implications of emerging biometric identification technology such as face recognition and retinal scanning are covered in extensive detail. The overriding theme is that as computer processing power and digital storage space increase, a headlong rush to connect the dots of private information is outpacing society's control or even an understanding of its implications. A very well-researched and timely work. Summing Up: Highly recommended. All levels.-K. D. Winrvard, Missouri State University
| [Author Affiliation] |
| K. D. Winward, Missouri State University |
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