MacVoices #26233: Live! - Facial Recognition, Biometric Privacy, and Bending Spoons’ Buying Spree

The MacVoices Live! panel examines a class action lawsuit over Apple Photos facial recognition, debating whether on-device processing, user consent, and biometric privacy laws justify the legal action. The conversation moves to TV tracking alternatives after TV Time’s shutdown, then shifts to Bending Spoons’ acquisition of Airtable, exploring the company’s growing portfolio, its business strategy, and the future of database tools in an era of AI-assisted coding development. Panel members include: Marty Jencius, David Ginsburg, Jim Rea, Chuck Joiner, Eric Bolden, Web Bixby, and Brian Flanigan-Arthurs. Apple Photos’ facial features prompt a $32.5B class-action lawsuit https://appleinsider.com/articles/26/08/03/apple-photos-facial-features-prompt-a-325b-class-action-lawsuit?utm_source=rss Siri AI may require a paid subscription for heavy users – 9to5Machttps://9to5mac.com/2026/07/30/siri-ai-may-require-a-paid-subscription-for-heavy-users/ Bingers, a new TV-tracking app from the founder of TV Time, is now available to download |https://9to5mac.com/2026/08/04/bingers-a-new-tv-tracking-app-from-the-founder-of-tv-time-is-now-available-to-download/ Bending Spoons agrees to acquire Airtable in an all-cash deal valuing the US software company at $1.285B, set to close by 2026-end, its first post-IPO deal (Reuters) https://www.techmeme.com/260804/p11#a260804p11 Show Notes: Chapters: 00:00 Apple Photos facial recognition lawsuit introduced03:20 On-device processing vs. cloud processing debate08:15 Illinois biometric privacy law and user consent questions13:10 Comparing Apple Photos with Facebook and Google Photos18:00 TV Time replacement: Bingers introduced20:15 Bending Spoons acquires Airtable26:10 Airtable’s role as a database platform31:20 FileMaker, AI coding, and the future of database software37:45 Bending Spoons’ acquisition strategy and long-term goals44:10 Vimeo, Meetup, Eventbrite, and the expanding software portfolio Links: Apple Photos’ facial features prompt a $32.5B class-action lawsuit https://appleinsider.com/articles/26/08/03/apple-photos-facial-features-prompt-a-325b-class-action-lawsuit?utm_source=rss   Siri AI may require a paid subscription for heavy users – 9to5Mac https://9to5mac.com/2026/07/30/siri-ai-may-require-a-paid-subscription-for-heavy-users/   Bingers, a new TV-tracking app from the founder of TV Time, is now available to download https://9to5mac.com/2026/08/04/bingers-a-new-tv-tracking-app-from-the-founder-of-tv-time-is-now-available-to-download/   Bending Spoons agrees to acquire Airtable in an all-cash deal valuing the US software company at $1.285B, set to close by 2026-end, its first post-IPO deal (Reuters)  https://www.techmeme.com/260804/p11#a260804p11 Guests: Get detailed bios and contact information about for the panel on the MacVoices Live! Panel page on our web site:https://macvoices.com/macvoiceslive/macvoices-live-panel/ Support:      Become a MacVoices Patron on Patreon     http://patreon.com/macvoices      Enjoy this episode? Make a one-time donation with PayPal Connect:      Web:     http://macvoices.com      Twitter:     http://www.twitter.com/chuckjoiner     http://www.twitter.com/macvoices      Mastodon:     https://mastodon.cloud/@chuckjoiner      Facebook:     http://www.facebook.com/chuck.joiner      MacVoices Page on Facebook:     http://www.facebook.com/macvoices/      MacVoices Group on Facebook:     http://www.facebook.com/groups/macvoice      LinkedIn:     https://www.linkedin.com/in/chuckjoiner/      Instagram:     https://www.instagram.com/chuckjoiner/ Subscribe:      Audio in iTunes     Video in iTunes      Subscribe manually via iTunes or any podcatcher:      Audio: http://www.macvoices.com/rss/macvoicesrss      Video: http://www.macvoices.com/rss/macvoicesvideorss