February Book Club - "Habeas Data: Privacy vs. the Rise of Surveillance Tech"

Civic tech isn't just about data, coding, and designing. There are a lot of great books and articles out there that address society, culture, technology, discrimination, economics, and all those other things we care about. So let’s read and talk about some of them!

In February, we'll meet up to discuss the book "Habeas Data: Privacy vs. the Rise of Surveillance Tech" by Cyrus Farivar. This book takes us on a journey through U.S. legal cases that have set the precedent for our current state of surveillance law. It relates historic practices like wiretapping to current concerns like cracking iPhone encryption and Google Street view privacy problems. It's a book that "combines the charge of a legal thriller with the shock of the daily headlines" (https://www.mhpbooks.com/books/habeas-data/). Written in a journalistic style that reads like a series of stories, you don't have to be a lawyer to like this book! It's a fascinating read for anyone interested in understanding the past and future of surveillance law in the U.S.

If you only have time to read part of the book, then skim one or two of the sections that interest you most and we can compare notes. We look forward to seeing you there!

You can find the book at:

• Hennepin County Library: https://hclib.bibliocommons.com/item/show/5709826109
• St. Paul Public Library: https://sppl.bibliocommons.com/item/show/2410322138

Note: The library doesn't allow food in this room, but you're welcome to bring yourself a beverage as long as it's covered.