What the Hack? Episode 216: Who’s Watching the Watchers?
Sep 9, 2025
Charity Clark, Vermont's Attorney General, champions data privacy and consumer protection as she unpacks the sneaky world of digital surveillance. She discusses the real threats posed by AI scams and how companies harvest your data without you knowing. Listeners learn about the urgent need for regulations to safeguard personal privacy, particularly for children in schools. Clark emphasizes the importance of engaging with legislators to fight back against big tech and protect our online rights.
AI Snips
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Transcript
Episode notes
Privacy Is Philosophical And Practical
- Charity Clark frames data privacy as both a philosophical right and a practical defense against theft and scams.
- Protecting data reduces identity theft, extortion, and other real harms.
States Need Focused, Educated AI Policy
- States must educate legislators and craft targeted laws because AI evolves faster than existing statutes.
- Vermont focuses on narrow fixes like revenge-porn laws to include AI-generated harms.
'Swagger' Excuses Risk And Lawbreaking
- Corporate 'swagger' excuses lawbreaking by claiming exceptionalism and superiority.
- That rhetoric shows up in crypto, AI, and political leadership resisting accountability.