The Identity Trade: Selling Privacy and Reputation Online

The book "The Identity Trade" explores the relationship between online visibility and privacy, and the politics of identity and self-presentation in the digital age. It looks at the history of efforts by the consumer privacy industry to give individuals control over their digital image through the sale of privacy protection and reputation management as a service.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 256 pages
Publication date: 14 December 2021
Publisher: New York University Press

The successes and failures of an industry that claims to protect and promote our online identities

What does privacy mean in the digital era? As technology increasingly blurs the boundary between public and private, questions about who controls our data become harder and harder to answer. Our every web view, click, and online purchase can be sold to anyone to store and use as they wish. At the same time, our online reputation has become an important part of our identity—a form of cultural currency.

The Identity Trade examines the relationship between online visibility and privacy, and the politics of identity and self-presentation in the digital age. In doing so, Nora Draper looks at the revealing two-decade history of efforts by the consumer privacy industry to give individuals control over their digital image through the sale of privacy protection and reputation management as a service. Through in-depth interviews with industry experts, as well as analysis of media coverage, promotional materials, and government policies, Draper examines how companies have turned the protection and promotion of digital information into a business. Along the way, she also provides insight into how these companies have responded to and shaped the ways we think about image and reputation in the digital age.

Tracking the successes and failures of companies claiming to control our digital ephemera, Draper takes us inside an industry that has commodified strategies of information control. This book is a discerning overview of the debate around who controls our data, who buys and sells it, and the consequences of treating privacy as a consumer good.

The consumer privacy industry has emerged as a powerful force in the digital age, promising to protect and promote our online identities. However, the industry's successes and failures are a testament to the complex and evolving nature of the relationship between online visibility and privacy.

On the one hand, the industry has made significant strides in giving individuals control over their digital information. Companies such as Google, Facebook, and Twitter have implemented privacy policies that allow users to choose what data they share and with whom. They have also developed tools that allow users to monitor their online reputation and take action to protect it.

On the other hand, the industry has faced criticism for its practices and the commodification of privacy. Companies have been accused of selling user data to third parties without their consent, using targeted advertising to manipulate users' behavior, and engaging in surveillance practices that violate their rights.

One of the industry's most significant successes has been the development of privacy policies that give users control over their data. These policies allow users to choose what information they share and with whom, and they provide clear guidelines for how companies use and protect their data.

However, the industry has also faced criticism for its lack of transparency and accountability. Companies have been accused of using complex and opaque language in their privacy policies, making it difficult for users to understand what data they are sharing and how it is being used. Additionally, there have been cases where companies have violated their own privacy policies, such as when Facebook was accused of selling user data to political campaigns without their consent.

Another area of concern for the industry is the commodification of privacy. Companies have been selling privacy protection and reputation management as a service, charging users for access to their data and tools that allow them to monitor their online reputation. While this can be beneficial for individuals who want to protect their online identity, it can also create a sense of dependency and vulnerability.

Companies have been accused of using aggressive marketing tactics to promote their services, such as targeted advertising and social media influencers. These tactics can be effective in attracting new users, but they can also create a sense of anxiety and insecurity among users who are concerned about their online reputation.

In response to these concerns, the industry has taken steps

In response to these concerns, the industry has taken steps

In response to these concerns, the industry has taken steps to address transparency and accountability. Companies have been required to provide clear and transparent privacy policies that are easy to understand and accessible to users. They have also been required to be more transparent about how they use and protect user data, and they have been held accountable for any breaches of privacy.

Additionally, the industry has developed tools and resources to help users protect their online reputation. These tools include privacy settings that allow users to control who can see their posts and who can comment on them, as well as reputation management services that allow users to monitor their online presence and take action to improve their online reputation.

Despite these efforts, the industry still faces challenges. One of the biggest challenges is the growing complexity of the digital landscape, which makes it difficult for users to understand and navigate. Additionally, there are still concerns about the commodification of privacy and the potential for abuse and exploitation.

The Identity Trade provides a comprehensive and insightful analysis of the consumer privacy industry's successes and failures. Nora Draper's book is a must-read for anyone interested in understanding the relationship between online visibility and privacy, and the politics of identity and self-presentation in the digital age. Through in-depth interviews with industry experts, as well as analysis of media coverage, promotional materials, and government policies, Draper examines how companies have turned the protection and promotion of digital information into a business.

One of the book's most significant findings is that the consumer privacy industry has commodified strategies of information control, turning privacy into a consumer good. Companies have been able to sell privacy protection and reputation management as a service, charging users for access to their data and tools that allow them to monitor their online reputation. This has created a sense of dependency and vulnerability among users, who are concerned about their online identity and the potential for abuse and exploitation.

Draper also provides insight into how companies have responded to and shaped the ways we think about image and reputation in the digital age. Companies have been able to use targeted advertising and social media influencers to manipulate users' behavior, creating a sense of anxiety and insecurity among users who are concerned about their online reputation. This has led to a culture of self-censorship and self-presentation, where users are afraid to share their opinions and ideas online for fear of being targeted or criticized.

The book also highlights the importance of transparency and accountability in the consumer privacy industry. Companies have been required to provide clear and transparent privacy policies that are easy to understand and accessible to users. They have also been held accountable for any breaches of privacy, and they have been required to be more transparent about how they use and protect user data.

However, the industry still faces challenges. One of the biggest challenges is the growing complexity of the digital landscape, which makes it difficult for users to understand and navigate. Additionally, there are still concerns about the commodification of privacy and the potential for abuse and exploitation.

In conclusion, the successes and failures of the consumer privacy industry are a testament to the complex and evolving nature of the relationship between online visibility and privacy. While the industry has made significant strides in giving individuals control over their digital information, it has also faced criticism for its practices and the commodification of privacy. The Identity Trade provides a comprehensive and insightful analysis of the industry's successes and failures, and it is a must-read for anyone interested in understanding the relationship between online visibility and privacy, and the politics of identity and self-presentation in the digital age.

Weight: 444g
Dimension: 150 x 338 x 19 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781479811922