This Week in Privacy

About

A weekly live podcast from Privacy Guides - We cover updates on what we’re working on, privacy news from around the industry, and anything our community wants to share.

Privacy Guides is a non-profit, impartial organization that is focused on delivering the best online privacy advice and building a strong privacy community.

Would You Pay $60 For A Browser? (ft. Firewalls Don't Stop Dragons)
This week we are joined by Carey Parker from Firewalls Don't Stop Dragons, Brave has announced a paid $60 version of Brave with bloatware and features stripped out, in the US - Nevada police are tracking phones locations without a warrant, and more! Join us for This Week In Privacy #50. (00:00) - Intro (00:36) - Start of podcast (01:16) - Brave Origin strips web browser down to its core and asks you to pay for less (20:28) - Maryland becomes first state to pass bill banning 'surveillance pricing' (31:03) - Site updates (37:31) - Mozilla Used Anthropic's Mythos to Find and Fix 271 Bugs in Firefox (51:17) - Unauthorized group has gained access to Anthropic's exclusive cyber tool Mythos, report claims (57:05) - Exclusive: Meta to start capturing employee mouse movements, keystrokes for AI training data (01:12:35) - Forum updates (01:22:10) - Q&A (01:50:09) - Outro ★ Support this podcast ★
Predictive AI w/ Carissa Véliz, Author of 'Privacy is Power' & 'Prophecy'
We recently interviewed Carissa Véliz, author of Privacy is Power and University of Oxford associate professor, to talk about how predictive AI will make a ‘meritocracy’ impossible, how lifelike chat bots are designed to deceive you, and the importance of privacy in the digital age. Her new book, ‘Prophecy,’ comes out on April 21st.View on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E00mNfH75qMListen in your favorite podcast app: https://privacyinterviews.transistor.fm/episodes/predictive-ai-w-carissa-veliz-university-of-oxford-professorThe RSS feed for our audio interviews is separate from This Week in Privacy, you can find it at https://privacyinterviews.transistor.fm/subscribe ★ Support this podcast ★
Are Privacy Opt-Outs Useless?
An independant privacy audit of Microsoft, Google and Meta has found that privacy opt outs didn’t have an effect, Cal.com has moved from open-source to closed-source, Netgear has been exempt from the FCC’s non-US made router ban, and more! Join us for This Week In Privacy #49. (00:00) - Intro (00:45) - Start of podcast (01:19) - Google, Microsoft, Meta All Tracking You Even When You Opt Out, According to an Independent Audit (18:05) - Sovereign Tech Agency funding (Mastodon) (32:45) - Cal.com is going closed source. Here's why. (39:26) - Discourse is Not Going Closed Source (52:21) - Site updates (58:16) - Republican Mutiny Sinks Trump's Push to Extend Warrantless Surveillance (01:13:50) - 'No more excuses': Von Der Leyen says EU age checking app is ready (01:26:40) - Gottheimer Announces Bipartisan "Parents Decide Act" to Protect Kids Online (01:40:50) - Forum updates (01:57:53) - Q&A (02:14:13) - Outro ★ Support this podcast ★
Interview with EFF Executive Director Cindy Cohn
We recently interviewed Cindy Cohn, EFF Executive Director and author of her new memoir: “Privacy’s Defender: My Thirty-Year Fight Against Digital Surveillance”View on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-PFv0ki3nDcListen in your favorite podcast app: https://privacyinterviews.transistor.fm/episodes/defending-privacy-w-cindy-cohn-effs-executive-directorThe RSS feed for our audio interviews is separate from This Week in Privacy, you can find it at https://privacyinterviews.transistor.fm/subscribe ★ Support this podcast ★
Why Does Microsoft Hate Security?
Microsoft is suspending developer accounts for key privacy tools like VeraCrypt and Wireguard, Employers are using your personal data to figure out the lowest salary you’ll accept, and more! Welcome to This Week In Privacy #48! (00:00) - Intro (00:45) - Start of podcast (01:09) - Microsoft Abruptly Terminates VeraCrypt Account, Halting Windows Updates (18:53) - Employers are using your personal data to figure out the lowest salary you’ll accept (36:51) - Site updates (44:01) - Little Snitch for Linux - Because Nothing Else Came Close (55:21) - Mini Q&A (01:05:05) - FBI Extracts Suspect’s Deleted Signal Messages Saved in iPhone (01:24:25) - Forum updates (01:40:04) - Q&A (01:58:06) - Outro ★ Support this podcast ★
Claude Code Leaked It's Own Source Code
Anthropic’s Claude Code just leaked it’s own source code, ONLYOFFICE suspends Nextcloud partnership, LinkedIn scans your browser extensions, and more. Join us for This Week In Privacy #47! (00:00) - Intro (00:42) - Start of podcast (01:19) - Entire Claude Code CLI source code leaks thanks to exposed map file (18:43) - California bill would require parent bloggers to delete content of minors on social media (26:39) - Site updates (30:13) - ONLYOFFICE suspends Nextcloud partnership for forking its project without permission (43:24) - LinkedIn Is Illegally Searching Your Computer (58:50) - A Secure Chat App’s Encryption Is So Bad It Is ‘Meaningless’ (01:11:26) - Forum updates (01:27:08) - Q&A (01:33:41) - Outro ★ Support this podcast ★
The US Bans New Foreign Made Routers?!
The US’s Federal Communications Commission has banned all foreign made routers stating their are not secure for use. Walmart digital price labels are coming to every store shelf in the US, Systemd has integrated age verification systems, and more. Join us for This Week In Privacy #46! (00:00) - Intro (00:37) - Start of podcast (01:13) - The US government just banned consumer routers made outside the US (23:31) - Systemd's New Feature Brings Age Verification Option to Linux (38:11) - Site updates (43:44) - HK police can now demand phone passwords under new national security rules (49:56) - Jury finds Meta and Google negligent in social media harms trial (01:11:23) - Forum updates (01:29:56) - Q&A (02:01:40) - Outro ★ Support this podcast ★
New Exploit Affects 220 Million iPhones
The ‘dark sword’ exploit affects over 220 million iPhones running outdated iOS versions, the FBI is buying location data to track US citizens, a Tennessee grandmother was jailed after an AI facial recognition error linked her to fraud, and much more, join us for This Week In Privacy #45! (00:00) - Intro (00:51) - Start of the podcast (01:42) - Hundreds of Millions of iPhones Can Be Hacked With a New Tool Found in the Wild (16:41) - FBI is buying location data to track US citizens, director confirms (26:45) - Site updates (31:54) - Google details new 24-hour process to sideload unverified Android apps (56:47) - Should Banksy Remain Anonymous? (01:06:22) - Forum updates (01:33:47) - Q&A (01:52:35) - Outro ★ Support this podcast ★
Chat Control is Finally Dead?
European parliament MEPs vote to end untargeted mass scanning of private chats, is this the end of Chat Control? A new consortium wants to remove custom ROM hurdles with digital payment systems, and more! Join us for This Week In Privacy #44. (00:00) - Intro (00:44) - Start of podcast (01:18) - Historic Chat Control Vote in the EU Parliament: MEPs Vote to End Untargeted Mass Scanning of Private Chats (07:54) - Where are Jonah and Nate right now? (09:42) - Paying without Google: New consortium wants to remove custom ROM hurdles (15:11) - Site updates (19:15) - DuckDuckGo is building it's own web search index (26:44) - Forum updates (27:27) - ProtonVPN macOS killswitch discussion (45:07) - Q&A (01:09:40) - Explaining what the event that Jonah & Nate are at is about (01:12:02) - Outro ★ Support this podcast ★
GrapheneOS has a Hardware Partner!
GrapheneOS has announced who their official hardware partner is, a new US Californian law is says all operating systems must have age verification, and much more. Join us for This Week In Privacy #43! (00:00) - Intro (00:20) - Start of podcast (00:57) - Motorola confirms GrapheneOS support for a future phone, bringing over features (14:44) - iPhone and iPad aprpoved to handle classified NATO information (23:25) - Meta sued over AI smart glasses' privacy concerns, nudity, sex, and other footage (41:51) - Site updates (49:35) - OpenAI changes deal with US military after backlash (01:04:01) - Proton Mail Helped FBI Unmask Anonymous 'Stop Cop City' Protestor (01:23:25) - Q&A (01:57:17) - Outro ★ Support this podcast ★
Apple Rolls Out Age Verification Worldwide
Apple is verifying user’s ages to download R18+ apps and games on the app store globally to comply with age verification laws, people across the US are destroying and dismantling FLOCK cameras, Firefox has a new “block AI” switch to disable AI features, and much more. Join us for This Week In Privacy #42! (00:00) - Intro (00:21) - Start of podcast (01:17) - Apple rolls out age-verification tools worldwide to comply with growing web of child safety laws (32:24) - Open source registries don't have enough money to implement basic security (47:46) - Site updates (52:30) - Amazon Change Means Wishlists Might Expose Your Address (59:26) - Across the US, people are dismantling and destroying Flock surveillance cameras (01:09:17) - Quick updates (01:12:42) - Forum updates (01:33:30) - Q&A (01:59:13) - Outro ★ Support this podcast ★
Meta's Smart Glasses Just Got Creepier
Meta plans to add facial recognition technology to their smart glasses, popular password managers fall short of their “zero knowledge” claims, Apple is testing end-to-end encryption with RCS in iOS 26.4 beta, and much more. Join us for This Week In Privacy #41! (00:00) - Intro (00:20) - Start of podcast (01:38) - Meta Plans to Add Facial Recognition Technology to Its Smart Glasses (17:26) - Popular password managers fall short of “zero-knowledge” claims (31:11) - iOS 26.3 adds unique new privacy feature, and it’s Apple at its best (38:23) - Everything New in iOS 26.4 Beta 1 (45:11) - Site updates (50:37) - Microsoft says bug causes Copilot to summarize confidential emails (58:14) - Grok Exposed a Porn Performer’s Legal Name and Birthdate—Without Even Being Asked (01:16:04) - Age verification laws quick update (01:23:17) - Forum updates (01:40:31) - Q&A (01:43:34) - Outro ★ Support this podcast ★
Discord Wants Your ID!
Discord is facing backlash after requiring all users to provide ID to access age restricted servers and channels, this comes after Discord breached 70,000 of its users government ID documents, Apple is moving to remove anonymous chat apps from the App Store, and much more! Join us for This Week In Privacy #40. (00:00) - Intro (00:22) - Start of the podcast (01:23) - Discord faces backlash over age checks after data breach exposed 70,000 IDs (33:27) - Upgraded Google safety tools can now find and remove more of your personal info (44:19) - Google recovers “deleted” Nest video in high-profile abduction case (59:13) - Site updates (01:02:11) - ‘Dystopian’ Ring Search Party feature sparks public backlash (01:18:04) - Homeland Security Spying on Reddit Users (01:36:27) - Forum updates & Q&A (02:07:27) - Outro ★ Support this podcast ★
Apple's Lockdown Mode Blocked the FBI?
The FBI Couldn’t Get into a reporter’s iPhone because it had lockdown mode enabled, RAM shortages have hit Raspberry Pi prices, more countries are rolling out Australia style under 16 social media bans, and much more! Join us for This Week In Privacy #39. (00:00) - Intro (00:23) - Start of the podcast (01:12) - FBI Couldn’t Get into WaPo Reporter’s iPhone Because It Had Lockdown Mode Enabled (21:12) - Notepad++ update feature hijacked by Chinese state hackers for months (31:40) - Site updates (42:02) - Ongoing RAM crisis prompts Raspberry Pi’s second price hike in two months (55:57) - You won: Microsoft is walking back Windows 11’s AI overload - scaling down Copilot and rethinking Recall in a major shift (01:09:28) - Spain & Greece announce plans to ban social media for under-16s (01:13:53) - Forum updates (01:32:49) - Q&A (01:45:56) - Outro ★ Support this podcast ★
WhatsApp Is Not Really Encrypted?
WhatsApp encryption is coming under scrutiny, French lawmakers are pushing an under-15s social media ban, TikTok’s privacy policy has gotten worse after it has been bought by American investors, and much more! Join us for This Week In Privacy #38. (00:00) - Intro (00:21) - Start of podcast (01:12) - Site updates (04:47) - Lawsuit Alleges That WhatsApp Has No End-to-End Encryption (19:04) - French lawmakers vote to ban social media use by under-15s (36:23) - UK Lords vote to ban VPNs for children as pressure on the privacy tools increases (49:57) - AI and facial recognition to be rolled out as Britain’s ‘broken’ policing system faces sweeping reforms (01:03:12) - TikTok Is Now Collecting Even More Data About Its Users. Here Are the 3 Biggest Changes (01:17:26) - Forum & Community Updates (01:20:32) - Q&A (01:50:46) - A Message from Privacy Guides' Program Director (01:54:07) - Outro ★ Support this podcast ★
Why is Bitwarden Raising Prices?
Bitwarden is raising prices, Microsoft handed over encryption keys to the FBI, U.S. ICE agents are misidentifying people with facial recognition, and much more! Join us for This Week in Privacy #37! (00:00) - Introduction (00:22) - Start of Podcast (01:50) - Site Updates (04:42) - Bitwarden launches enhanced premium plan (17:02) - Predator Spyware Turns Failed Attacks Into Intelligence for Future Exploits (22:33) - Ireland wants to give its cops spyware, ability to crack encrypted messages (31:48) - Microsoft Gave FBI Keys To Unlock Encrypted Data, Exposing Major Privacy Flaw (43:32) - One of the first alternative app stores in the EU is shutting down (49:30) - A Bundle of ICE Stories (01:09:51) - Q&A (01:32:03) - Outro ★ Support this podcast ★
Did Signal's Founder Create the Most Private AI?
Moxie Marlinspike has created a private AI alternative called Confer, Windscribe has helped form a privacy alliance, Threema got acquired by Comitis Capital, E2EE comes to RCS messaging on iOS 26.3, and much more! Join us for This Week in Privacy #36! (00:00) - Intro (00:21) - Start of podcast (01:10) - Site updates (05:57) - Signal creator Moxie Marlinspike wants to do for AI what he did for messaging (30:13) - Windscribe Partners with Kagi, Notesnook, Addy.io, and Ente to Create a Privacy-Focused Alliance (46:09) - Comitis Capital announces the acquisition of Threema (01:01:09) - Encrypted RCS Spotted in iOS 26.3 Beta (01:08:36) - Google’s Gemini to power Apple’s AI features like Siri (01:20:18) - Never-before-seen Linux malware is “far more advanced than typical” (01:27:00) - Forum updates (01:31:00) - Q&A (01:45:16) - Outro ★ Support this podcast ★
Is Google Abandoning Open Source?
Google is changing how they release Android Open Source Project code, California is introducing a way for people to mass opt-out of data brokers, cryptocurrency theft attacks are still being traced to the 2022 Lastpass breach and much more! Join us for This Week in Privacy #35! (00:00) - Intro (00:19) - Start of podcast (01:20) - Site updates (05:08) - Breaking: Google will now only release Android source code twice a year (22:12) - Italy Fines Cloudflare €14 Million for Refusing to Filter Pirate Sites on Public 1.1.1.1 DNS (44:07) - The nation’s strictest privacy law just took effect, to data brokers’ chagrin (54:36) - Founder of spyware maker pcTattletale pleads guilty to hacking and advertising surveillance software (01:08:20) - Cryptocurrency theft attacks traced to 2022 LastPass breach (01:19:45) - Forum updates (01:32:47) - Q&A (01:54:45) - Outro ★ Support this podcast ★
What Will the EU Do Next?
Happy New Year! Join us for This Week in Privacy #34! (00:00) - Intro (00:23) - Start of podcast (01:41) - Simon Harris says Ireland to lead EU drive for ID-verified social media (22:20) - France targets Australia-style social media ban for children next year (41:30) - Hacker claims to leak WIRED database with 2.3 million records (48:35) - Texas father rescues kidnapped 15-year-old daughter after tracking her phone’s location (01:00:37) - Trump administration removes three spyware-linked executives from sanctions list (01:12:54) - Forum updates (01:27:05) - Q&A (01:49:40) - Outro ★ Support this podcast ★
Flock Exposes Mass Surveillance Cameras to the Internet
Happy holidays! Join us for This Week in Privacy #33! (00:00) - Intro (00:22) - Start of podcast (01:09) - Site updates (04:00) - Flock Exposed Its AI-Powered Cameras to the Internet (23:14) - Pa. high court rules on Google searches without a warrant (40:15) - EU prepares ground for wider data retention & VPN targets (56:48) - Judge blocks Texas app store age verification law (01:11:38) - South Korea to require face scans for SIM cards (01:24:17) - Forum highlights (01:39:56) - Q&A (02:05:43) - Outro ★ Support this podcast ★

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