I’ve been working on a special project for six months, and I’m thrilled to let you know that it releases on Monday. It’s a 6-episode series on the state of privacy in America, and in the world. Alia Tavakolian and I have been working since this spring, talking to dozens of experts, and diving deep into the world of data brokers to understand why so much it risk today — and more important, what our world will look like in 10 years if we don’t figure out how to pass meaningful privacy protections for citizens very soon. I think you’ll find the discussions rich, scary, but ultimately hopeful.
Click below to hear a two-minute trailer for the series, which we are calling No Place To Hide — a tip of the cap to Robert O’Harrow’s great book from 2006.
Or click to listen to the first episode at Stitcher, or at iTunes). Or press play below.
I actually feel like I’ve been working on this project for 20 years or more.
Privacy probably isn’t what you think it is. It’s so much more than being left alone.
We live at a dangerous moment in time. Amazing technologies are released every day that have the potential to solve the world’s great problems — cancer, pollution, overcrowding, transportation. But these very same technologies will have the ability to track and store our every movement from birth to death, to know our thoughts, and indeed, change our thoughts. We are already being hacked — soon, the hacking of humans will be complete if we don’t change course. We are in danger of creating a monster, a Frankenstein so powerful that it could devour our very humanity and free will.
All this sounds very futuristic, philosophical, even academic — and that’s why No Place to Hide begins with a reminder that for some, privacy is already a life or death issue. We start with the story of Amy Boyer, who was ruthlessly murdered by a stalker 20 years ago this fall. I often call her the first person murdered by the Internet. Then we explain why so many other Amy Boyers are at risk today because we are so cavalier about personal information.
Click play below to get a flavor for this project. Better yet, subscribe to our So, Bob podcast at iTunes or at Stitcher, so you don’t miss anything.
The podcast is once again produced by Spoke Media, and brought to you ad-free by our sponsor Intel, which had no editorial control over the content.
Keep up the good work – it is so important!!