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Tools and Weapons
Book

Tools and Weapons

The Promise and the Peril of the Digital Age

Penguin Press, 2019
First Edition: 2019 Mehr


Editorial Rating

10

Qualities

  • Applicable
  • Eye Opening
  • Hot Topic

Recommendation

Information technology dominates every aspect of our lives, and will soon become as ubiquitous as electricity. However, in the wrong hands it can be a weapon. That is why Brad Smith, President of Microsoft, insists that governments must work with the tech sector to build a safer future. Privacy and security are key, but so is recognizing that data is a renewable resource that should be shared, for the benefit of humanity. Smith offers detailed insight into our collective tech future based on his years of experience managing relationships among competitors and nations. Smith warns of the potentially catastrophic consequences of not getting ahead of powerful technology.

Take-Aways

  • The NSA Snowden affair raised the question: What is more important, people’s privacy or public safety?
  • Information technology is a tool. Like any tool it can also be a weapon.
  • Disruptions on social media caused by rival regimes threaten democratic norms.

About the Authors

President of Microsoft Brad Smith works with international associates on issues regarding cybersecurity, privacy, artificial intelligence, immigration, human rights and the environment. The New York Times labeled him the “de facto ambassador for the technology industry at large.” Carol Ann Browne is the senior director of communications at Microsoft. She works with Brad Smith on corporate communications worldwide.


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