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Episode: This Week in Tech 1014: Just Say It's Capitalism
Release Date: January 13, 2025
Host: Leo Laporte
Guests: Father Robert Ballecer (Digital Jesuit), Nicholas De Leon (Senior Electronics Reporter, Consumer Reports), Cory Doctorow (Author from Pluralistic.net)
1. Introduction and Panel Overview
Leo Laporte kicks off the episode by introducing a star-studded panel featuring Father Robert Ballecer, Nicholas De Leon from Consumer Reports, and author Cory Doctorow. The discussion centers around a CES post-mortem, significant data leaks from mobile apps, and the pressing need for comprehensive privacy laws.
“It's time for TWiT this Week in Tech...”
— Leo Laporte [00:00]
2. CES 2025 Post-Mortem
Father Robert Ballecer shares his observations from CES 2025, expressing disappointment over the repetitive focus on EVs and AI, likening the event to a yearly déjà vu with minimal groundbreaking innovations.
“Every year we can tease a couple of interesting things out of CES...”
— Father Robert Ballecer [05:22]
Nicholas De Leon discusses Sony's ambitious but overpriced electric vehicle, critiquing its practicality and market positioning.
“...90,000 feels a little expensive...”
— Nicholas De Leon [05:28]
Cory Doctorow criticizes the trend of subscription-based car features, emphasizing the lack of consumer ownership and the potential for market manipulation.
“Remember, the only reason there's such a thing as a subscription car is that the Digital Millennium Copyright act makes it illegal to reverse engineer it...”
— Cory Doctorow [06:52]
3. Data Privacy and Mobile App Vulnerabilities
A significant portion of the discussion highlights the alarming revelation that most mobile apps are leaking user location data to data brokers. Cory Doctorow stresses the urgency for robust privacy legislation to combat these pervasive leaks.
“It's all coming up next on Twit podcasts you love from people you Trust.”
— Leo Laporte [00:00]
“It's pretty much all of the apps you use on your phone are leaking your location to data brokers...”
— Cory Doctorow [06:52]
4. Real-World Impacts and Personal Anecdotes
Father Robert Ballecer transitions to discussing real-world crises, notably the severe wildfires affecting communities, drawing parallels between technological vulnerabilities and environmental disasters.
“So, I mean, it's not small. It’s just horrific...”
— Father Robert Ballecer [13:36]
The panel expresses solidarity with affected listeners and shares personal stories, highlighting the intersection of technology, community resilience, and environmental challenges.
5. Innovations and Product Critiques at CES
The panel critiques various CES innovations, labeling many as "Worst in Show" due to their lack of practicality and intrusive data practices.
Cory Doctorow introduces his new book, Picks and Shovels, and discusses the "Worst in Show" awards, emphasizing Consumer Reports' role in highlighting tech failures.
“I had to buy it this year because I had a busy schedule...”
— Cory Doctorow [16:03]
Father Robert Ballecer criticizes Sony's AI refrigerator and other overhyped gadgets, advocating for products that offer genuine utility over flashy features.
“The Samsung booth this year was probably the best microcosm of what's wrong with CES...”
— Father Robert Ballecer [18:16]
6. Assistive Technologies and Ethical Considerations
Father Robert Ballecer highlights advancements in assistive technologies, such as exoskeletons that restore mobility to paraplegic individuals, while Cory Doctorow shares concerning stories about the lack of support for critical medical devices.
“There's a company from Canada called Humans in Motion... it will stabilize you and prevent you from falling...”
— Father Robert Ballecer [27:59]
“There was a jockey who relied on an exoskeleton... a tiny piece of bent metal caused it to fail...”
— Cory Doctorow [28:08]
7. Content Moderation and the Future of Social Media
The conversation shifts to Meta's (formerly Facebook) approach to content moderation, with Cory Doctorow and Leo Laporte debating the effectiveness and ethical implications of moving to community-driven moderation systems like Community Notes.
“Meta was going to stop doing fact checking and stop moderating...”
— Leo Laporte [70:08]
“It's okay to foment genocide against the Rohingya now or whatever...”
— Cory Doctorow [82:35]
They discuss the challenges of balancing free speech with preventing harmful content, critiquing Meta's strategies and the broader social media landscape's impact on information dissemination.
8. Legislative and Regulatory Insights
Cory Doctorow delves into the complexities of current privacy laws, the inadequacies of the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act (CFAA), and the necessity for comprehensive federal privacy legislation to protect users from data exploitation.
“We need a federal privacy law with a private right of action and no preemptions...”
— Cory Doctorow [162:54]
Father Robert Ballecer echoes these sentiments, highlighting the role of organizations like AARP in advocating for stronger privacy protections.
9. Cybersecurity and Virtual Privacy
The panel underscores the critical need for robust cybersecurity measures, referencing recent data breaches and the vulnerabilities of everyday applications. Leo Laporte and Cory Doctorow advocate for tools like ExpressVPN to safeguard personal data against pervasive surveillance and hacking threats.
“Every time you connect to an unencrypted network, and that's everywhere...”
— Leo Laporte [155:12]
“A privacy law is the answer to that...”
— Cory Doctorow [162:54]
10. Concluding Remarks and Future Directions
As the episode wraps up, Leo Laporte promotes upcoming events, including Cory Doctorow's book launch and Nicholas De Leon's work at Consumer Reports. The panel reaffirms their commitment to technological transparency, user privacy, and ethical innovation.
“Martinhench.com...”
— Cory Doctorow [48:07]
“And the digital Jesuit, Father Robert Balassair...”
— Leo Laporte [72:29]
Key Takeaways:
- Repetitive CES Trends: The Consumer Electronics Show has become stagnant, with minimal innovation and excessive focus on EVs and AI.
- Privacy Concerns: A majority of mobile apps leak location data to brokers, underscoring the need for stringent privacy laws.
- Ethical Technology: Assistive technologies show promise, but lack of support and ethical considerations pose significant challenges.
- Content Moderation Challenges: Meta's shift to community-driven moderation raises questions about effectiveness and ethical implications.
- Legislative Gaps: Existing laws like the CFAA are inadequate for modern privacy and cybersecurity needs, highlighting the urgency for comprehensive federal legislation.
- Cybersecurity Tools: Utilizing tools like ExpressVPN is essential for protecting personal data in an increasingly vulnerable digital landscape.
Notable Quotes:
“It's all coming up next on Twit podcasts you love from people you Trust.”
— Leo Laporte [00:00]
“It's pretty much all of the apps you use on your phone are leaking your location to data brokers.”
— Cory Doctorow [06:52]
“Meta was going to stop doing fact checking and stop moderating...”
— Leo Laporte [70:08]
“We need a federal privacy law with a private right of action and no preemptions...”
— Cory Doctorow [162:54]
Conclusion
This Week in Tech 1014: Just Say It's Capitalism offers a critical examination of current technological trends, privacy vulnerabilities, and the ethical dilemmas facing both consumers and creators. Through insightful discussions, the panel underscores the imperative for meaningful legislative action, responsible innovation, and vigilant cybersecurity practices to navigate the complexities of the modern digital era.
Note: Advertisements, introductions, outros, and non-content sections have been omitted to focus solely on substantive discussions.