This event is for Public Sector workers only. Please sign up using your Public Sector email. If you do not, your ticket will be cancelled.

Privacy is Power, Carissa Véliz

An Economist BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR in 2020

"Digital technology is stealing our personal data and with it our power to make free choices. To reclaim that power and democracy, we must protect our privacy. Short, terrifying, practical: Privacy is Power highlights the implications of our laid-back attitude to data and sets out how we can take back control."

Join us at the Data Ethics & Society Reading Group to discuss Privacy is Power by Carissa Véliz. 

👋 We will be holding two sessions over two weeks. The sessions will each focus on a different section of the book- but if you can't make the one you want to come to, we can still guarantee a great conversation! Read more about our changes in our recent Data in Government blog post.

See 'Sessions' below for more details.

The event is FREE to attend, but places are limited so please sign up to reserve your spot! 

Sessions

We will discuss this book over two sessions, you can attend both if you want. We will have different discussion topics for each session. 

• Tue 11 Nov 2025 12 PM - 1 PM (focusing on the first half of the book; the dangers the data economy poses and why we should care)
• Wed 26 Nov 2025 1 PM - 2 PM (focusing on the second half of the book; what can we do about it, and whose responsibility is it?)

When you sign up, you will receive a link for that session. You will need to sign up separately if you would like to attend both sessions.

Please note signups for the first session will close on Monday 3rd November at 6pm. Signups for the second session close on Tuesday 18th November at 6pm.

Reviews

Some reviews from prominent academics in the field:

"An essential guide to one of the most pressing modern issues." - Hannah Fry, author of Hello World

"We didn't see digital surveillance coming, but today it's threatening democracy and basic freedoms. If you want to understand why privacy matters more than ever before, and how we can preserve it in an age of data grabbing, read this book." - Nigel Warburton, author of A Little History of Philosophy

A review from our panel member:

"Privacy is Power is more classically philosophical than some of the other books read by the group (see the list here), but it remains highly readable and practical. Véliz first sets the scene, describing where and how data is collected in our everyday lives, and charting how we got here through the rise of the data economy. She then explores the concept of privacy, arguing that a lack of privacy allows others power over us, so that by protecting our privacy we are able to reclaim some of this power. She then explores where and how our privacy is being undermined, turning to both systemic and individual solutions. Some of these examples, naturally, look at Government data collection and should encourage us in the public sector to think critically about the benefits and risks of holding this data."

About us

See our GitHub page for more information.

Please note that you need to sign up to this event in order to receive communications. If you have previously attended a reading group session you will not be automatically added.

Suggest a book

Suggest a book and/or join our mailing list!

“I have a brilliant idea for reading material! Who do I tell?”
We love suggestions! Email xgov-data-ethics@proton.me or suggest it via this form.

You can also join our mailing list to hear about future events.

Harriet, Nicola and Henry (organisers of Data Science: Ethics & Society Reading Group events)