They Know Everything About You

How Data-Collecting Corporations and Snooping Government Agencies Are Destroying Democracy

By: Robert Scheer

Narrated by: Dana Hickox

They Know Everything About You is a groundbreaking exposé of how government agencies and tech corporations monitor virtually every aspect of our lives, and a fierce defense of privacy and democracy. The revelation that the government has access to a vast trove of personal online data demonstrates that we already live in a surveillance society. But the erosion of privacy rights extends far beyond big government. Intelligence agencies such as the NSA and CIA are using Silicon Valley corporate partners as their data spies. Seemingly progressive tech companies are joining forces with snooping government agencies to create a brave new world of wired tyranny.

Life in the digital age poses an unprecedented challenge to our constitutional liberties, which guarantee a wall of privacy between the individual and the government. The basic assumption of democracy requires the ability of the individual to experiment with ideas and associations within a protected zone, as secured by the Constitution. The unobserved moment embodies the most basic of human rights, yet it is being squandered in the name of national security and consumer convenience.

Robert Scheer argues that the information revolution, while a source of public enlightenment, contains the seeds of freedom's destruction in the form of a surveillance state that exceeds the wildest dream of the most ingenious dictator. The technology of surveillance, unless vigorously resisted, represents an existential threat to the liberation of the human spirit.

©2015 Robert Scheer (P)2015 Gildan Media LLC

Critic reviews

"A vital piece of work that demands attention." ( Kirkus Reviews)

Privacy Matters

What did you love best about They Know Everything About You?

Bob Scheer explores the depths of the problem -- not just replaying political rhetoric. For every argument, he goes to the beginning of the problem.

Any additional comments?

I believe our society is sliding into a dangerous place. We are allowing privacy to slip away like an echo. We think we still have privacy, but we can't really identify where it is anymore. Indeed, we may even recognize that we are allowing an Orwellian world to be built around us yet we are choosing to ignore the controls we have to stop it for fear they may invade the convenience of our instant communication.

Bob Scheer quickly sets the stage and then goes through each of the characters in depth. I appreciate the time and effort he has invested in helping us understand the dangerous path we're on. I hope to see him on the forefront of our debate for a solution!

you need to be a tech nerd.

unless one is a tech nerd this is not an easy listening book. I wouldn't recommend.