PODCAST · technology
Banish Big Brother
by Zach Varnell, Elizabeth Melton
Join hosts Elizabeth and Zach as they embark on a thought-provoking journey through the labyrinth of privacy, technology, surveillance, and the digital age's unseen battles. Banish Big Brother isn't just another podcast; it's a mission to unravel the complex web of information that surrounds us, challenge the omnipresent eyes of surveillance, advocate for the sanctity of personal privacy in a world that's growing increasingly transparent, and have fun doing it.Each episode, Elizabeth and Zach dive deep into current events, technological advancements, and the shadowy realms of surveillance and privacy. They bring to light the critical issues that affect us all, from the rise of SMART cities to the subtle encroachments on our personal freedoms. Through engaging discussions, expert interviews, and listener stories, they explore the balance between the benefits of technology and the critical need to protect our digital and real-world selves from prying eyes.But it's not all serious bus
Episodes
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Annoying Legislators for Freedom with Alex Marthews (Restore the Fourth)
Alex Marthews, National Chair of Restore the Fourth, joins Zach and Elizabeth for a deep dive into the legal architecture behind mass surveillance, from FISA's origins after the Church Committee and COINTELPRO revelations to today's AI-accelerated version of the same programs. Alex walks through...
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Flock Offers Buyouts as the Backlash Keeps Growing
Zach and Elizabeth dig into a Wired report on Flock's new voluntary separation program, offered to its roughly 1,500 employees amid mounting backlash, along with reporting that the company may need to sell off parts of its business to stay afloat. They cover an EFF audit log review that caught...
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Flock’s Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Summer w/ Jon Padfield
Jon Padfield, host of the Business Reform YouTube channel, joins Zach and Elizabeth for a deep dive into what license plate reader networks actually capture and where the technology is headed next. They start with signal traces (the electronic fingerprints your devices give off as you drive) and...
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The Surveillance State Doesn’t Need Your Permission Anymore
In this episode of Banish Big Brother, Zach and Elizabeth cover the escalating tactics of the surveillance state and the creative ways people are fighting back. They start with the shocking news out of Oakland, where police are obtaining warrants to physically tow bystanders' Teslas just to…
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The Surveillance State Is Bigger Than Flock
Flock cameras may be getting all the attention, but what else is happening behind the scenes? In this episode of Banish Big Brother, Zach and Elizabeth look at the growing surveillance infrastructure being built into everyday life. We discuss a Wisconsin police department installing Flock cameras...
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Flock in Crisis PR Mode: Copaganda & Fake Transparency w/ Ethan Watters
In this episode of Banish Big Brother, Zach and Elizabeth are joined by "educator and agitator" Ethan Watters from Flockout SAV. They discuss the Savannah mayor's refusal to hold open public comment periods and the shocking revelation that 28% of the Savannah Police Department's budget is heavily...
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Flock’s Propaganda Is Backfiring
Zach and Elizabeth dive into the escalating pushback against Flock cameras and the government's attempts to control the narrative. They break down a Colorado intelligence memo attempting to link the anti-surveillance movement to extremists, and analyze Flock’s sneaky new Terms and Conditions that...
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FBI Data Says Flock Cameras Don’t Actually Solve Crime
Zach and Elizabeth walk through a tour of a real-time crime center and what it actually revealed, then dig into the data behind the "these cameras keep us safe" pitch. New FBI numbers show Flock's home turf of Atlanta has one of the largest camera networks in the country and some of the worst...
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The For-Profit Surveillance Machine: School Zone Cameras & Data Centers w/ James Dutton
James Dutton, the attorney who took Georgia's automated school zone speed cameras all the way to the state Supreme Court (twice), joins Zach and Elizabeth for a deep dive into how for-profit surveillance actually works on the ground. James breaks down how out-of-state corporations like Vera...
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The War on Flock Cameras
Zach and Elizabeth dig into the wave of Americans cutting down, vandalizing, and outright destroying flock cameras across the country, from an Air Force engineer facing charges to a man who replaced a downed cameras with American flags. They break down why jury nullification could matter for…
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Bitcoin Power Hypocrisy, Orbital Datacenters & Moon Nukes w/ Jake Green
Jake Green of Peaceful Sea Productions joins Zach and Elizabeth for a wide-ranging tour through the surveillance state's latest toys. They start with a throwback: the 2013-era panic over Bitcoin's energy use, and why nobody in the media seems bothered that AI data centers now consume vastly more...
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Spy on Everyone to Protect the Children: Flock, Social Media Bans, & Disguised Cameras
A Texas town council member throws a public tantrum after his city votes to cancel its Flock contract, and the resulting "Bandera Declaration of Digital Independence" is as unhinged as it sounds. Zach and Elizabeth break down the logical fallacies packed into one man's attempt to equate mass...
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Your Concerns Are Probably Chinese Propaganda | Data Centers, Flock, and Surveillance Infrastructure
The surveillance state isn't coming. It's already here, it's expanding fast, and apparently if you have a problem with that, China put you up to it. In this episode, Zach and Elizabeth dig into the sudden explosion of data centers across the country, why governments at every level are pushing…
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Open Records Are Taking Down Flock Cameras
The pitch for Flock is always the same: “If you’ve done nothing wrong, you’ve got nothing to hide.” Then a court says the footage is public record, and suddenly cities start unplugging the cameras. In this episode, Zach Varnell and Elizabeth Melton walk through the public records rulings that are...
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The Guy Who Ripped Out a License Plate Reader (And Why We Cheered)
Zach and Elizabeth break down the surreal case of a Missouri county commissioner facing felony charges for removing a license plate reader — even though the county had already banned them. That sparks a deeper conversation about public surveillance, Flock cameras, inflated government tech...
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Google Drops Pledge to Not Develop AI Weapons & ChatGPT Joins the Dating Scene
We dive into the latest news around AI, surveillance, and control. First up, Google quietly ditches its pledge to avoid developing AI for weapons and surveillance — what does this mean for the future of Big Tech and military partnerships? Then, we break down China’s deployment of its AI system,...
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The Good News Episode
Tired of the endless cycle of dystopian tech headlines? In this special episode of Banish Big Brother, Zach and Elizabeth take a break from the usual doom and gloom to focus on the positives. From victories against government overreach to breakthroughs in privacy tech, every story in this episode...
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The Fall of CBDCs (For Now) and the Rise of Quantum Threats
We dive into some rare good news—Trump’s executive order banning Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDCs). But is it really a victory for privacy, or just a sleight of hand favoring private financial giants? We unpack the implications, the risks of private CBDCs, and the looming threat of...
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New Orleans Pushes for “European Style” Surveillance After Attack & Chicago Ditches ShotSpotter
Elizabeth and Zach discuss the chilling proposal for expanded surveillance in New Orleans following a tragic New Year’s Eve attack, raising questions about privacy, predictive technologies, and the misuse of AI. They also dive into Chicago’s decision to abandon ineffective ShotSpotter gun…
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Biden Administration Wanted Total Control of ALL Artificial Intelligence
Meta plans to fill Facebook with AI-generated users designed to mimic real people, raising alarming questions about authenticity, privacy, and ethics. Meanwhile, school zone speed cameras are under fire as legislators expose them as profit-driven scams. In New York City, congestion pricing…
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AI Denies Healthcare Coverage & USA’s Surveillance Iron Dome
UnitedHealthcare faces allegations of using an AI model with a 90% error rate to deny care, forcing elderly patients into financial ruin. Meanwhile, drone detection technology meant for border security raises serious questions about its potential for tracking human behavior. And the push for a…
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Border Surveillance Towers, AI Legislation Looms, & App Predicts Your Death
Federal surveillance towers are quietly rising along the U.S.-Canada border, equipped with cameras and sensors capable of monitoring miles of private property. AI is becoming a tool for law enforcement, with implications for public safety, privacy, and even your daily life. Meanwhile, a new app...
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DNA Company Vanishes, Australia’s Social Media Ban via Digital IDs, & AI Art vs Human Creativity
A DNA testing company disappears, leaving customers’ genetic data unprotected—what are the risks? Australia proposes a social media age ban with digital ID verification for everyone. Is this a step toward surveillance or safety? We also examine the legal fight against Clearview AI’s data scraping...
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
Join hosts Elizabeth and Zach as they embark on a thought-provoking journey through the labyrinth of privacy, technology, surveillance, and the digital age's unseen battles. Banish Big Brother isn't just another podcast; it's a mission to unravel the complex web of information that surrounds us, challenge the omnipresent eyes of surveillance, advocate for the sanctity of personal privacy in a world that's growing increasingly transparent, and have fun doing it.Each episode, Elizabeth and Zach dive deep into current events, technological advancements, and the shadowy realms of surveillance and privacy. They bring to light the critical issues that affect us all, from the rise of SMART cities to the subtle encroachments on our personal freedoms. Through engaging discussions, expert interviews, and listener stories, they explore the balance between the benefits of technology and the critical need to protect our digital and real-world selves from prying eyes.But it's not all serious bus
HOSTED BY
Zach Varnell, Elizabeth Melton
CATEGORIES
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does Banish Big Brother have?
Banish Big Brother currently has 23 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is Banish Big Brother about?
Join hosts Elizabeth and Zach as they embark on a thought-provoking journey through the labyrinth of privacy, technology, surveillance, and the digital age's unseen battles. Banish Big Brother isn't just another podcast; it's a mission to unravel the complex web of information that surrounds us,...
How often does Banish Big Brother release new episodes?
Banish Big Brother has 23 episodes. Check the episode list to see recent publication dates and frequency.
Where can I listen to Banish Big Brother?
You can listen to Banish Big Brother on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts Banish Big Brother?
Banish Big Brother is created and hosted by Zach Varnell, Elizabeth Melton.
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