Technocreep: The Surrender of Privacy and the Capitalization of Intimacy

Are you worried about technology taking over our lives? Well, you should be; things are worse than you think.

Technocreep shows how all sorts of data is used and collected in creepy ways, and the technology exists to track your locations, habits, even thoughts in ways you probably hoped would never be possible. The author discusses how information is available about voting and political contribution histories; high-tech forensics and biological tracking (including of DNA); RFID chips; and surveillance cameras. It is not just about spying and tracking; we use technology in other ways that only few years ago would have been seen as absurd, such as programming apps specifically for our pets to use (‘Snapcat’?)! Because this is all rather alarming, the author does offer several important ways to minimize the “creep” in our lives: software tracking trackers, password protections, encryptions, and of course being incredibly stingy with any personal information. These are very basic recommendations, but bear repeating. The book is accessible and actionable, with interesting anecdotes; it is all very informative and even entertaining, but factual and so all the more frightening. It is a definite must-read for everyone concerned about the impact of technology.