The AI Panopticon: How Big Tech and the State are Watching You

"My ultimate vision... was to achieve by means of AI and technology, what Jeremy Bentham tried to do with his panopticon." — UK Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood.When the state openly admits it wants its eyes on you at all times, how do citizens fight back?In this episode of In Solidarity, Matthew Linares sits down with Jim Killock, Executive Director of the Open Rights Group. We cut through the Silicon Valley PR to expose the terrifying reality of the modern surveillance state. From the aggressive rollout of facial recognition and predictive policing to the "revolving door" between Big Tech lobbyists and policymakers, we explore how our democratic infrastructure is being hollowed out for corporate profit.This isn't just a warning - it's an escape plan. Jim breaks down the illusion of corporate regulation, the realities of "enshittification," and the actionable steps you can take to reclaim your digital sovereignty today.Get involved offline. Find an Open Rights Group meetup near you: https://www.openrightsgroup.org/get-involved/👉 Stay informed. Sign up for the openDemocracy newsletter: https://www.opendemocracy.net/en/newsletters/ ✊ Support our work. In Solidarity is openDemocracy’s podcast about people, power, and politics. We rely on listeners like you to keep our independent journalism free. Donate today: https://www.openDemocracy.net/donate/Chapters:00:00:00 - Introduction00:01:27 - The AI Panopticon00:04:18 - The Lobbyist Loop & The “Rip-Off”00:10:26 - “Enshittification” & The Illusion of Choice00:14:48 - Why relying on tech regulators is a “mug’s game”00:18:51 - Escaping the Matrix: Interoperability, analog meetups, and fighting backCredits: Presented by Matthew LinaresAudio engineering by James BattershillTheme song ‘Odyssey’ performed by Edward Abela Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.