A Practical Guide to Privacy on the Web

Privacy is a concept that often feels abstract and difficult to grasp. It is a fundamental part of who we are, yet it remains intangible. For those building digital experiences, however, privacy is not just a philosophical notion; it is a critical component of the design and development process.

The new book, Understanding Privacy, aims to demystify the subject. It is a practical guide covering everything from data collection and the use of personal information to creating safe, inclusive online experiences. The goal is to help readers shift from seeing privacy as a burdensome legal obligation to viewing it as an opportunity to build a better web.

The eBook is available now, with printed hardcover copies shipping in early December. A free PDF sample (11MB) is also available to preview the content.

What the Book Covers

Authored by Heather Burns, a tech policy and regulation specialist, the book distills experience from working on privacy across human rights, law, policy, and web development. It is designed to be accessible and immediately useful for designers, developers, and project managers who want to integrate a healthy, user-centric approach to privacy into their work.

This is not a legal reference manual. Instead, the book provides a foundation for understanding the fundamental values of privacy as a concept, which precede privacy as a legal compliance issue. Readers will learn how to adopt these principles to put users first today while also laying the groundwork for a better web tomorrow.

Key areas of focus include:

  • Fundamental concepts, definitions, and frameworks behind privacy and data protection.
  • Integrating a healthy approach to user privacy into everything you build.
  • Addressing common privacy issues and making a difference.
  • Understanding the obligations we have to safeguard user privacy and health data.

Book Details and Structure

Understanding Privacy is 288 pages long, written by Heather Burns with cover design by Espen Brunborg. The book is organized into distinct sections that build on each other:

  • Privacy and You: Reviews the fundamental concepts, definitions, and frameworks behind privacy and data protection.
  • Privacy and Your Work: Discusses how to integrate a healthy approach to user privacy into the work of a designer, developer,, or project manager.
  • Privacy and Your Users: Covers user privacy issues and how to consider the power dynamics of what you create.
  • Privacy and Your Future: Suggests critical areas that make the web a better place and help build a better web for tomorrow’s users.
  • Postscript - Privacy and Health Data: Addresses the pressing issue of safeguarding user privacy and health data.

Pricing and Formats

The book is available in several formats to suit different preferences:

Combined Print + eBook: $44.00. This option includes a quality hardcover with free worldwide shipping and a 100-day money-back guarantee.

eBook Only: $19.00. The eBook is DRM-free and available in ePUB, Kindle, and PDF formats. It is included free with a Smashing Membership.