Prins, professor of Information Technology and Law at Tilburg University, explains that protecting the privacy of Internet users requires that they can communicate and perform transactions anonymously. However, this right to anonymity is under pressure because the traceability of data traffic and the identity of persons behind the computer are hot items on the political agenda. Legislation is failing to keep pace with the technology and so a timely review of how Dutch and international legislation need to be adapted so as to guarantee the continued balance between anonymity and identification is required.
Internet applications now offer a wide range of new possibilities to act anonymously. Not just chatting, surfing and searching but also purchasing can be done anonymously on the Internet. Yet these possibilities are being matched by an increasing number of techniques which make it possible to trace and keep the personal data of Internet users. These advances give rise to various questions. For example, do we need to set legal limits to the right to anonymity, or do we in fact need to limit the thirst for information in both the public and private sectors?
The book 'Digital Anonymity and the Law – Tensions and Dimensions', starts with a technical discussion of anonymity in an electronic environment, before analysing anonymity in the light of various themes. These include consumer protection, liability, international efforts against crime and terrorism, freedom of expression and the protection of privacy.
The National Programme for Information Technology and Law (Dutch acronym: ITeR) is an incentive programme from the Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research in cooperation with the Dutch Government. ITeR stimulates and finances research into current legal questions in the area of information technology. About five volumes per year will be published in the series Information Technology & Law.
For further information about the ITeR programme please contact Berry Bonenkamp (Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research), tel. 31-70-344-0950, e-mail: iter@nwo.nl. Recent copies from the series can be requested from the publisher, T.M.C. Asser Press, The Hague.
For further information about the chapters in the book please contact Prof. Corien Prins, tel. 31-134-663-088 (only available on Monday, Wednesday and Thursday), e-mail: j.e.j.prins@uvt.nl. Professor Prins is co-author of two of the thirteen chapters in the book. She is also one of the three editors.
Book details: Information Technology and Law series - volume 2, Digital Anonymity and the Law - Tensions and Dimensions, Editors: C. Nicoll, J.E.J. Prins, M.J.M. van Dellen, Publisher T.M.C.Asser Press, about 325 pages, hardcover, ISBN 90-6704-156-4, price € 80.00.
The research was funded by the Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research.