Journalist and author Byron Tau discusses his book on the hidden alliance of tech and government creating a surveillance state. Topics include data brokering evolution, metadata identification, personal privacy implications, state of privacy rights in the US, public-private surveillance relationship, and the impact of social media on data collection.
Data brokers evolved into collecting esoteric data like Bluetooth signals, increasing concerns about personal privacy.
Government agencies justify accessing commercial data for surveillance by exploiting the Third-Party Doctrine loophole.
Deep dives
Evolution of Data Brokers
Data brokers have evolved over time into three generations, each with distinct approaches to collecting and selling consumer data. Initially focusing on basic information like addresses and consumer preferences, data brokers moved on to social media monitoring for targeted ad tech data, and later to collecting esoteric data like Bluetooth signals. This evolution has led to a significant increase in the availability of personal data, raising concerns about privacy and civil liberties.
Government Demand for Commercial Data
Government agencies, including intelligence and law enforcement bodies, have increasingly turned to commercial data brokers to obtain consumer information for surveillance and national security purposes. The data obtained, ranging from consumer purchases to browsing history, is used to track individuals' movements, behavior, and preferences, ultimately forming detailed profiles. Despite concerns about potential privacy violations, the government justifies accessing this data as it is commercially available.
Impact of Third-Party Doctrine on Privacy
The Third-Party Doctrine serves as a loophole to the Fourth Amendment, allowing government agencies to access data shared with third parties without violating privacy rights. With the vast amount of personal data shared with third parties today, individuals' privacy interests are increasingly compromised. This exemption has enabled extensive metadata programs that gather information about individuals' communications and activities.
Public-Private Collaboration in Surveillance
The collaboration between private vendors and government agencies in data collection and surveillance poses significant privacy concerns. While private companies obtain extensive personal data for commercial purposes, governments leverage this information through public-private partnerships. This exchange of data, ranging from social media content to device signals, raises questions about the boundaries of privacy and civil liberties in the digital age.
In this two part series, Journalist and author Byron Tau joins host Ron Steslow to discuss his new book Means of Control: How the Hidden Alliance Of Tech And Government Is creating a New American Surveillance State
Part 1:
(02:36) Byron’s background and why he decided to write this book
(05:15) The Evolution of data brokering
(09:00) Understanding metadata and data collection and how they can identify you
(12:12) The implications for personal privacy
(22:15) The state of privacy rights in the United States
(26:16) The public-private surveillance relationship
(28:43) The shift in Government attitudes toward this type of data
(31:20) How social media changed the data collection game
Read Means of Control: How the Hidden Alliance Of Tech And Government Is creating a New American Surveillance State — https://bit.ly/44199hw