Privacy and the Internet

The chapter sets out new challenges for the economics of privacy in a variety of online settings with particular reference to the media industry.

Abstract

This chapter summarizes the fundamental questions underlying the economics of privacy. It highlights the tension between the multifaceted concept of privacy as commonly used in policy debates and its conceptualization as part of a utility function. The chapter then sets out new challenges for the economics of privacy in a variety of online settings with particular reference to the media industry. These settings include advertising, social networks, data security, and government surveillance.