Techlore Talks Interviewing Sean O'Brien: A Privacy & Security Expert
10 snips
May 15, 2020 In this engaging conversation, Sean O'Brien, a Yale Law School lecturer and founder of Yale Privacy Lab, dives into the world of privacy and security. He shares his journey into privacy advocacy, sparked by early web development and the Snowden revelations. Sean discusses the implications of COVID-19 on tech reliance and critiques contact tracing methods. He also sheds light on mobile OS alternatives, urging listeners to embrace free-software solutions. Among practical privacy tips, he recommends using ad blockers and the Tor Browser for better online safety.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Early Web Experiments Sparked Privacy Passion
- Sean O'Brien began making GeoCities websites and experimented with online identities as a teen, which sparked his interest in privacy.
- The Snowden disclosures in 2013 were the turning point that validated his prior concerns and pushed him into teaching and activism.
Small Data Aggregation Is Highly Powerful
- Web development taught Sean how little data is needed to identify people once aggregated across contexts.
- Centralized social platforms create powerful walled gardens that erode trust in intermediaries.
Contact Tracing Has Major Practical Limits
- Contact tracing can be valuable to public health but is technically and socially fraught.
- Bluetooth limits and sprawling social graphs weaken tracing efficacy and raise surveillance risks.