True Health Report Sidestepping the Surveillance State with Hakeem Anwar
Dec 23, 2025
Hakeem Anwar, founder and CEO of Above Phone, a pioneer of privacy-focused technology, discusses the hidden realities of modern surveillance. He reveals how smartphones constantly share your data with big corporations, even in private modes. Hakeem explores alternatives like the Above Phone, which empowers users to maintain privacy without sacrificing functionality. He also dives into digital ID and its dangers, while encouraging listeners to harness technology to reclaim their privacy and resist mass surveillance.
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Turning Point From Tech To Privacy
- Hakeem left big-tech web development after seeing lockdowns and tech's power used against communities.
- He moved home, joined community projects, and pivoted to privacy-focused tech work.
Surveillance As A DARPA Continuation
- Total Information Awareness aimed to measure and simulate everything happening in the world.
- Hakeem links modern AI and Palantir-style systems as realizations of that DARPA vision.
Universal Surveillance By Data Gluing
- Palantir-style data lakes glue disparate sources into a universal surveillance capability.
- Private contracts with businesses plus government ties sidestep traditional legal limits on warrantless surveillance.