Topic: Privacy Policy

A conceptual video presented at Davos illustrates a future where employers monitor employees' brainwaves to track stress, joy, and focus. The scenario depicts a worker receiving a performance bonus based on "brain metrics" but also fearing that her boss might detect an amorous interest in a colleague. The video concludes with the government subpoenaing employees' brainwave data to identify co-conspirators in a wire fraud investigation.

Employees are increasingly facing mandatory surveys and "voluntary" disclosure of vaccination status in the workplace. Some professionals are choosing to resign or face termination rather than participate in what they describe as the cataloging and discrimination of individuals based on medical choices. This movement emphasizes the value of moral integrity over financial security in the face of perceived corporate tyranny.

Curry describes the intrusive nature of Google's new privacy reminders in the EU, which prevent users from searching until they agree to updated terms. The hosts discuss the complexity of End User License Agreements (EULAs) and the difficulty of opting out of data tracking.

Sonos updated its terms of service, stating that the company cannot guarantee its wireless speakers will function if users do not agree to new data tracking policies. Sonos plans to integrate multiple voice assistants, including Alexa, Google, and potentially Siri or Cortana, into its hardware. The hosts discuss the potential for these tech giants to engage in antitrust behavior as they battle for control of the smart home ecosystem.

An examination of the White House's own privacy policy reveals extensive data collection on visitors, including browser type and connection speed. The hosts also question why the White House archives its own tweets when the Library of Congress already performs that task.

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.

The Department of Homeland Security proposes the National Strategy for Trusted Identities in Cyberspace (NSTIC), which would create a centralized identity system for the internet. The hosts warn that this could lead to a requirement for government-approved IDs to post online or shop.