Ep 29. The Latest in Spycraft: Spy Satellites, Private Ops & More, ft. Shashank Joshi

In this episode of the Great Tech Game podcast, host Anirudh Suri discusses with Shashank Joshi, defence editor at The Economist, the transformative impact of technology on espionage and global warfare. Shashank delves into how technological advancements, from synthetic aperture radar satellites to cloud computing to subsea cables, are reshaping the tools and practices of intelligence agencies. They explore the shift in the global tech infrastructure, the rise of new-age defense tech firms, and the growing integration of big tech companies with state defense mechanisms. Shashank provides insights into the implications of these changes for global power dynamics, touching on issues like cyber intelligence, autonomous weapon systems, and the future of warfare. Shashank and Anirudh also discuss how the Indian armed forces are approaching the adoption and invention of new technologies.Chapters00:00 Introduction 03:31 Challenges and Opportunities in Modern Espionage08:46 The Geopolitics of Subsea Cables 19:14 Spy Satellites and Geospatial Intelligence 30:35 Big Tech Firms and National Security43:52 Digital Colonialism45:22 Cyber Armies of Big Tech Firms46:19 Geopolitics of Global Alliances48:12 Sovereign Capabilities and Strategic Technologies49:24 Private Firms and Geopolitical Alignments52:18 The Role of Cybersecurity Firms in Modern Conflicts01:00:22 New Age Defense Tech Firms01:08:45 India's Armed Forces: IDEX and Adoption of New Tech01:16:13 US - China Hot War: What It Will Look Like01:21:36 Shashank's Book RecommendationsBook Links:The Permanent Crisis: https://www.amazon.in/Permanent-Crisis-Nuclear-Trajectory-Whitehall/dp/041583256XIndian Power Projection: https://www.amazon.in/Indian-Power-Projection-Ambition-Influence/dp/1138452351Anirudh Suri:The Great Tech Game by Anirudh Suri - https://amzn.eu/d/1Su38My Follow Anirudh here:X (formerly Twitter): https://x.com/anirudhsuriLinkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anirudhsuri/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/anirudh_suriFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/AnirudhSuri.inWebsite: [www.anirudhsuri.com](http://www.anirudhsuri.com/) Book and Podcast: [www.greattechgame.com](http://www.greattechgame.com/)#spycraft #Espionage #technology #geopolitics #DefenceTech, #Geopolitics, #CyberSecurity, #AIinWarfare, #FutureOfWar, #BigTech, #Encryption #SpaceTech, #NationalSecurity, #DefenceInnovation, #UkraineConflict, #USChinaRelations, #DigitalColonialism, #MilitaryIndustrialComplex, #TechEcosystems, #MilitaryStrategy, #AutonomousWeapons