We know, but choose not to think about it, that the internet is based on flimsy foundations. The physical architecture is being called upon to do something that had not been imagined, let alone intended. Privacy and security have been added as an afterthought. Legal frameworks, especially antitrust laws, are somewhat outdated.

In this book Ball goes into very fine detail about how this state of affairs came about. Crucially, from a teaching point of view, he explains how the internet actually works, and the interconnections between online advertising, privacy issues and cybersecurity. Thus the book will help teachers to address the parts of the Programme of Study concerned with computer systems, communications and online safety. However, it is, perhaps, too detailed for use by any but the most interested student.

Gladwellesque descriptions are somewhat irksome (who cares that an interview took place in Starbucks?), but this is a minor consideration.

This review first appeared in Teach Secondary magazine.

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