Topic: Data Collection

The Public Health Agency of Canada admitted to purchasing de-identified cell phone location data to monitor population movements during the COVID-19 pandemic. Privacy experts and the Privacy Commissioner of Canada, Daniel Therrien, debated the ethics of using personal information for "legitimate business interests" without explicit consent. The hosts critique the concept of "democratically appointed institutions" overseeing such surveillance.

The Federal Register published a notice from the Pretrial Services Agency for the District of Columbia regarding the creation of a "System of Records" for employee religious exception requests. This system will maintain personal religious information for those seeking exemptions from vaccine mandates. The hosts describe this as a "communist" style of keeping tabs on citizens' beliefs.

The CDC ceased public reporting of total breakthrough infections in April 2021, opting to track only cases resulting in hospitalization or death. An independent survey by NBC News across 38 states identified over 125,000 fully vaccinated Americans who tested positive for COVID-19. Internal CDC documents reportedly estimate approximately 35,000 breakthrough infections occur weekly.

A host recounted a medical visit where the first question asked was about the date of their last flu shot. The inquiry was described as "gratuitous," as the doctor did not provide a lecture or recommendation after the host replied "never." This data collection is framed as a bureaucratic requirement to fill checkmarks in a database rather than a genuine health concern.

A news report details Facebook's decision to drop its opposition to the California Consumer Privacy Act, a ballot measure designed to give consumers more control over personal data. Google continues to oppose the measure through a committee claiming the law would harm the California economy.

ProPublica's "Documenting Hate" project seeks to create a new database of hate crimes, claiming that FBI statistics are unreliable because many law enforcement agencies do not participate. The project relies on self-reported stories from individuals who believe they were victims of bias. Critics argue that relying on unverified personal accounts rather than official police data leads to subjective and potentially rigged results.

The hosts discuss methods for disposing of vintage computer hardware while maintaining data security, such as drilling through hard drives. They debate the potential resale value of legacy items like the Microsoft mouse with a metal ball and Lotus Jazz software. A distinction is made between being a "cheapskate" hoarder and a legitimate archivist of technology.

President Obama's interview with Kara Swisher of Recode is deconstructed, focusing on his calls for tech companies to work together, which critics argue resembles corporate collusion. Obama uses the term "scooping up" to describe intelligence community data collection while addressing the vulnerabilities of air traffic control and financial systems.

The "Student Digital Privacy Act" was introduced to prevent companies from using educational technology to collect student data for commercial purposes, such as targeted advertising. Obama highlighted the benefits of "innovative websites and apps" that allow parents to track student progress in real-time. The hosts express skepticism, suggesting this is part of a broader move toward codifying government and industry collusion in education.

UK Home Secretary Theresa May defends GCHQ's bulk data collection before Parliament, famously claiming that "the collection of bulk data is not mass surveillance." She uses the analogy of needing a "haystack" to find a "needle," a stance the hosts view as a beta test for similar policies in the United States.

The 2014 Google IO conference is criticized for its focus on "slave jewelry" wearables and the introduction of a proprietary Gmail API. The hosts argue that moving away from the open IMAP standard allows Google to further lock users into its ecosystem and monetize personal data. They predict Google will eventually deprecate IMAP to force developers and users into their controlled API environment.

Snapchat settled charges with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) for misleading users about the "disappearing" nature of its messages and for secretly collecting location data. While the company will not face a fine, it must change its privacy practices. The app's shift toward becoming a broader messaging platform like Facebook is seen as a strategic mistake.

The EU media report suggests that internet user data should be made available via court order to identify those "harming others" through media. Additionally, it proposes legally imposed rights of reply and mandatory retractions for unverified information. The hosts compare this proposed framework to the state-funded BBC model in the UK.

The discussion shifts to Google's privacy policies and the concept of a "digital dossier" used to sell advertisements. A critique is offered regarding the "do not track" browser buttons, which are likened to disconnected crosswalk buttons. The hosts argue that users are the product rather than the customers, as Google generates approximately $30 billion in annual revenue by assembling personal data.

A live walkthrough of a Twitter user survey reveals aggressive data collection tactics and "skip logic" designed to steer user sentiment. The hosts critique the pre-selected answers regarding social media usage time and the leading questions about switching from Facebook to other platforms.

The Science Museum in the United Kingdom has launched a "Prove It" campaign, urging visitors to sign a statement supporting man-made climate change theories. The campaign aims to present a unified front to the government ahead of the Copenhagen summit. However, the museum's own online poll showed a significant majority of participants (over 6,000) voting against the climate change evidence presented.

A new database in the UK, dubbed "Stasi HQ" by critics, reportedly monitors the travel plans of millions of British citizens. Travelers are increasingly required to register their holiday destinations with the government, often facilitated by airline data sharing.