Understood: Who Broke the Internet?

Cory Doctorow, a journalist and tech activist known for his sci-fi works, chats with Mattea Roach about his novel 'Picks & Shovels.' They dive into Martin Hench's world, a forensic accountant investigating Silicon Valley's financial crimes. The pair discuss how technology shapes storytelling and the societal challenges it presents, from climate issues to fascism. Doctorow also tackles the dark side of tech exploitation, user rights, and the need for ethical digital practices, all while reflecting on San Francisco's tech boom.

In this engaging discussion, Michael Geist, a law professor at the University of Ottawa and authority on digital policy, dives into the troubling rise of techno-feudalism and its implications. He warns against stringent digital lock laws while unpacking the challenges posed by Canadian legislation like Bill C-11 and Bill C-18. The conversation explores how these laws impact user rights, especially during crises, and advocates for an internet that prioritizes community-driven solutions and innovation over profit-driven motives.

Lina Khan, Chair of the FTC and a leading voice in antitrust law, takes center stage discussing the historic influence of Robert Bork on competition policy. She reveals how his ideas granted tech giants like Amazon unchecked power for decades. Khan dives into the struggles of small business owners facing Amazon's ruthless tactics and the pressing need for renewed regulation. The conversation sheds light on the ethical dilemmas of e-commerce and the fight to restore agency to consumers in a monopolized market.

In the vibrant DEF CON hacker conference atmosphere, diverse minds unite to share innovative ideas. A programmer reveals a vulnerability allowing the conversion of restricted eBooks, challenging Adobe's dominance. The arrest of Dmitry Sklyarov highlights the DMCA's chilling effect on internet freedom. Discussions reveal the struggle against corporate control over digital content and the importance of reverse engineering. Teenagers' attempts to reclaim the original Instagram experience underscore the ongoing battle between innovation and the overreach of tech giants.

The podcast dives into Google's transformation from an innovative search engine to a revenue-driven giant. It explores the ethical dilemmas faced by the company in prioritizing ads over user experience. The conversation touches on the origins of Google's motto 'Don't be evil' and how it contrasts with current practices. Listeners are taken through the challenges of navigating a cluttered online landscape filled with SEO-driven content, highlighting the frustrations of finding reliable information amidst the decay of quality.

Cory Doctorow dives into the decline of the internet, revealing how commercialization turned a promising platform into a playground of ads and algorithms. He introduces the concept of 'inshittification,' highlighting the deliberate choices of powerful figures that led to today's chaos. The discussion raises critical questions about the accountability of online spaces and presents a roadmap for how we can reclaim the internet. Prepare for an eye-opening journey through the tangled web we've created!

In the aftermath of René Angélil’s death, a Céline-aissance. But then, illness strikes. In the final episode of Céline: Understood, a look at her recent years, and why her fame endures.

Céline Dion becomes inescapable in the mid-nineties with her hit song from the Titanic soundtrack, My Heart Will Go On. She achieves a unique level of global fame, earning fans from Jamaica to Iraq. But her ubiquity will also inspire a backlash in North America.

With her manager René Angélil by her side, Céline Dion is starting to crossover into the US. But there’s a secret René and Céline have been keeping: one René feared could stop Céline’s blooming career in its tracks.

Céline Dion slept in a drawer as a baby born into a poor francophone Catholic family in Québec. At 12, she gets discovered in an office in Montreal, and she becomes a rising star in the insular constellation of Québec celebrity. But just as Céline is trying to break into English Canada, political tensions are running high in Québec. And some accuse her of selling out.