Controlling Knowledge

In Controlling Knowledge, Lorna Stefanick offers aprovocative inquiry into the regulatory regime that governs freedom ofinformation and the protection of privacy (FOIP). The application ofFOIP laws requires a balancing act between two potentially competinggoals - the desire to provide citizens with access to theinformation they need in order to hold others accountable and thedesire to safeguard an individual's right to privacy and protectsensitive information from abuse. To illustrate the impact of FOIP,Stefanick examines the secondary uses of medical data, looks at theforms of surveillance that the digital age has enabled, and exploresthe power and perils of Facebook and the Internet.Intended to serve as a "citizen's guide," andwritten in refreshingly down-to-earth language, ControllingKnowledge is a vital resource for anyone seeking to understand theconcepts and issues that drive FOIP legislation and how these laws areshaping our individual rights as citizens of the information age.