What Next | Daily News and Analysis TBD | The Great Celebrity Spotify Playlist Hack
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Aug 29, 2025 
In this chat, Mike Isaac, a tech reporter from the New York Times specializing in data privacy, dives into the unexpected world of the Panama Playlists. He humorously reveals how musical tastes of celebrities and government officials became public, sparking debates about privacy and data scraping. The conversation touches on the implications of sharing personal preferences online and the ongoing tension between transparency and data exposure. Tune in to explore the cultural acceptance of diverse musical tastes in a tech-savvy world!
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Late-Night Discovery Of Public Playlists
- Riley Walls messaged Mike Isaac at night to say he'd scraped public Spotify data and included Mike's playlist on a site called the Panama Playlist.
- Mike discovered his most-played song had 139 plays and felt embarrassed by the exposure.
Public Defaults Reveal Private Habits
- The Panama Playlist compiled listening data from high-profile figures, showing how public defaults reveal habits.
- Public defaults can surface personally revealing details that users may not expect to share.
Creator Revealed After Viral Spread
- Riley Walls eventually revealed his identity after the site went viral; he had been profiled earlier for similar data projects.
- Mike says Riley combines engineering skill with a playful streak and a concern for privacy.