In my latest essay for the IAPP “Privacy Perspectives” blog , I ponder the question: Why is it that better methods of digital contracting and data ownership have not yet developed to help us protect our privacy online? I note that the idea has long been floating around out there, but never gone anywhere. I offer a couple of explanations for why that has likely been the case. But I also note that there may still be some reasons to believe that private data contracting has a future.
(Note: I discuss these issues in greater detail in my forthcoming George Mason Law Review article, “A Framework for Benefit-Cost Analysis in Digital Privacy Debates.” It will be out before the end of the month and I will post it here once it is live.)