Legal Commentary

Also by way of commemorating Canada Day (although I'm sufficiently assimilated that I'd forgotten it was taking place, which somehow seems both very American and totally typical of a Canadian holiday), let me recommend a book that has been out for a while but should be of strong interest to many of our readers.  And it's by Canadians!  It's titled Lessons From the Identity Trail: Anonymity, Privacy and Identity in a Networked Society, and edited by Ian Kerr (an old friend of mine), Valerie Steeves, and Carole Lucock.  Here's a description:

During the past decade, rapid developments in information and communications technology have transformed key social, commercial, and political realities. Within that same time period, working at something less than Internet speed, much of the academic and policy debate arising from these new and emerging technologies has been fragmented. There have been few examples of interdisciplinary dialogue about the importance and impact of anonymity and privacy in a networked society. Lessons from the Identity Trail: Anonymity, Privacy and Identity in a Networked Society fills that gap, and examines key questions about anonymity, privacy, and identity in an environment that increasingly automates the collection of personal information and relies upon surveillance to promote private and public sector goals.

This book has been informed by the results of a multi-million dollar research project that has brought together a distinguished array of philosophers, ethicists, feminists, cognitive scientists, lawyers, cryptographers, engineers, policy analysts, government policy makers, and privacy experts. Working collaboratively over a four-year period and participating in an iterative process designed to maximize the potential for interdisciplinary discussion and feedback through a series of workshops and peer review, the authors have integrated crucial public policy themes with the most recent research outcomes.

I should note that not all of the contributors are Canadian -- but, with Degrassiesque flair, it still easily passes Canadian content requirements.  It looks like a great book.  What's more, the pieces are all available for download online, although that shouldn't stop you from buying it too.  Ages ago in blog time, the legal blogosphere had a discussion about the propriety of blowing the cover of an anonymous law professor/blogger.  This book seems like a must-read for those who are interested in these kinds of issues.  (I thought Brian Leiter's comments on these issues were well worth reading, although I don't share his views.  For some tentative thoughts of at least one semi-Canadian, see this piece.)