Released: 20th August 2020
Genre: Non-Fiction, Technology, Society
Number of Pages: 233
James Ball is a former journalist of both Wikileaks and The Guardian; these outlets have exposed many unethical actions in western governments. He now runs the Bureau of Investigative Journalism and this is accompanied by several book releases. With “The System”, he closely examines the internet, its impact on society and the forces that control one of our most important tools. More than ever, concerns over ethical use and privacy hang over modern western society and this book reaches to the heart of those topics.
The internet connects millions of us together, but it also comes with many serious problems that need addressing. The rise of advertisement business models, the flow of information, net neutrality and hack attacks; all of these are made possible with the cables connecting countless computers and networks. James organises these issues into categories, homing in on the people with the biggest impact online. This includes those with the money to influence operations and those looking to challenge governments and democratise the online scene. While the author does present his observations clearly, the book’s heavy use of technical terms may be off-putting for some readers.
Initially, Ball begins with a summary of how the internet was created and how it grew into its current form. Details of the US’s ARPANET project. A key thread running through the book is how the world wide web grew at an exponential rate, so much so that we were unable to craft effective legislation to regulate its use and avoid potential problems. Through a collection of anecdotes and interviews. James drills straight to the heart of where the internet went astray; as a result, discussions with individuals like Brian O’Kelley are definitely the most intriguing element.
Recommended?
YES: While it may take some time to get into with its many technical terms and descriptions, The System is a timely and relevant book that puts a magnifying glass on our connected society. The use of a full timeline from the internet’s inception through to today grounds the author’s research while his own experiences offer some great insight into the forces controlling the online scene. If nothing else, James Ball gets you to consider these modern issues, to understand what they mean for the wider populous; this makes for an engaging read.
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