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What Next | Daily News and Analysis

TBD | The Surveillance State Trump Is Inheriting

Dec 15, 2024
Ronan Farrow, an investigative reporter for The New Yorker renowned for his work on Harvey Weinstein, discusses the alarming rise of surveillance technology. He highlights how tools like Pegasus threaten personal privacy, often targeting political dissenters. The podcast dives into the chilling implications of government surveillance on civil liberties and free expression, citing examples from Spain and Greece. Farrow emphasizes the urgent need for bipartisan action to protect data privacy in our increasingly monitored world.
28:27

Episode guests

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

  • The rapid advancement of surveillance technology, exemplified by tools like Pegasus, poses significant threats to the privacy of individuals and civil liberties.
  • Insufficient legal frameworks and regulatory gaps allow unchecked government surveillance, raising concerns about the potential abuse of power and loss of accountability.

Deep dives

The Rise of Surveillance Technology

The podcast discusses the alarming growth of surveillance technology, highlighting how systems like NSO Group's Pegasus have made it easier for governments and entities to intrude upon privacy. These technologies can access personal devices, allowing hackers to secretly turn on microphones and cameras without the user’s knowledge. This evolution in surveillance technology signifies a shift from isolated incidents to a more widespread practice affecting average citizens, including peaceful activists and apolitical individuals. Examples from countries like Spain illustrate how this technology has been used against political opposition, revealing a troubling trend of government overreach.

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