5 chapters across the catalog
Intelligence Community and Social Media, Digital Dust
Kara Swisher and an intelligence expert discuss the "tell" of not having a social media presence. They explain that for intelligence officers, having no "digital dust" or signature on platforms like Facebook or LinkedIn can actually be a red flag that identifies them as undercover operatives.
Intelligence Agency Social Media Tells and Digital Footprints
The discussion explores the concept of a "tell" in the intelligence community, where the absence of a digital persona on platforms like Facebook or LinkedIn indicates a background in espionage. Reference is made to Kara Swisher and the Directorate of Digital Innovation, noting that intelligence organizations historically encouraged employees to avoid a virtual presence, which now creates a distinct signature.
The episode concluded with a discussion on the rapid advancement of artificial intelligence and its ability to impersonate human language and digital footprints. The hosts signed off with their traditional "adios mofos" and "a-hooey" catchphrases. The final minutes featured a produced audio mix deconstructing recent news themes, including the Ukraine war, COVID-19, and the "invention of fire" analogy for AI.
Digital ID in France and Mastercard Carbon Tracking
Immediately following the election, France announced plans for a digital identity passport and a large-scale facial recognition system. Simultaneously, Mastercard is partnering with the World Economic Forum to introduce carbon-tracking credit cards that allow users to set self-imposed spending limits based on their carbon footprint. These developments are framed as part of a broader shift toward ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) compliance.
Digital Footprints, Workplace Discipline and Tough Love
The hosts discuss the dangers of permanent digital footprints, citing the Strzok-Page texts and private Slack rooms as examples of technology "biting people in the ass." They argue that modern managers are unable to provide "tough love" or direct criticism due to HR concerns and "social justice warrior" employees. John Dvorak and Adam Curry share anecdotes from their past careers about enforcing office hours and criticizing poor writing without causing "crying" or lawsuits.
