By Glenn Greenwald
Review by Jack (Computer Science)

I’m not a fan of reading but this book caught my attention.

No Place to Hide by Glenn Greenwald is an eye-opening exploration into the world of government surveillance, privacy, and the revelations of whistle-blower Edward Snowden. The book offers a view into the extent of mass surveillance by governmental agencies and the implications for individuals and societies.

Did you know that both the British and American governments compelled the world’s most trusted tech giants — such as Google, Facebook, Microsoft, and Apple, among many others — to build backdoors into their systems so that they could see and collect all our data? If you use Facebook, Instagram, email or even call/text a friend, you’ve probably had your data collected without your consent. Do they admit this? No. But luckily for us, a man named Edward Snowden found out about it.

I was genuinely astounded to learn about the remarkable lengths Edward Snowden went to — stealing top-secret government files, seeking refuge in another country, separating from his family, and evading the American government — all in a bid to expose the world’s largest surveillance agencies. The immoral practices of collecting surveillance data on millions of innocent civilians without consent that were exposed by Snowden are nothing short of staggering.

This book navigates through diverse subjects, confronting the manipulation of tragedies like 9/11 by governments, the question of whether anyone in the modern world genuinely possesses privacy, the ethical considerations surrounding the theft of user data, and the unjust legal system that conceals such actions. I highly recommend this book for any individual intrigued by ethics, law, journalism or computer science as it offers a compelling exploration of critical issues, providing real-world large-scale examples and unique insights on pressing societal matters.

Reading and seeing the story of Edward Snowden and his escape, as well as the unbelievable statistics on government spying, is a thrilling (perhaps also worrying) experience. Even if you have no idea what you want to do in the future, this book is a must-read for anyone who uses social media or even texts/calls a friend.

No Place to Hide by Glenn Greenwald
ISBN-10: ‎0241968984
ISBN-13: 978-0241968987

Try checking the availability of this book at your school or local library or explore second hand bookshops and websites. You may also wish to purchase from either Amazon or Blackwell’s.

Read more reviews on our Reading Bank.

Published: 8 March 2024

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