Banish Big Brother

About Banish Big Brother

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 business. Elizabeth and Zach also bring a unique blend of humor, wit, and light-heartedness to the conversation, reminding us that even in the midst of challenging topics, there's always room for laughter, fun, and a shared sense of community. Banish Big Brother promises not just to inform and provoke thought but also to entertain, proving that discussions around privacy and surveillance don't always have to be grim. Whether they're sharing quirky anecdotes, engaging in spirited banter, or exploring the lighter side of technology, Elizabeth and Zach create a podcast experience that’s both enlightening and enjoyable. Whether you're a tech enthusiast, privacy advocate, or just curious about the world of surveillance and digital rights, Banish Big Brother is your guide and companion. So tune in, join the conversation, and be part of a growing movement that believes in the power of awareness, the importance of dialogue, and the enduring value of privacy. Join us for a mix of meaningful dialogue, expert insights, and those unexpected moments of joy that remind us why fighting for our rights is worth it.

Publisher

Zach Varnell, Elizabeth Melton

Category

news · news · technology

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

18 May 2024

Latest episode

21 Oct 2026

Latest episodes

43 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   21 Oct 2026

   Autonomous Police Cars & Your Amazon Driver Now Spying on You

   A nonprofit is pitching driverless patrol cars to a North Carolina police department, Amazon wants 20,000 delivery drivers wearing AI smart glasses that photograph your property (and sometimes your front door) every few seconds, and a company no one’s heard of just found a way to bolt facial recognition onto Flock’s camera network without Flock’s permission. Zach and Elizabeth dig into how each of these “won’t replace humans” pitches quietly erases jobs, consent, and the last bit of privacy around your own home — plus a detour into kid-tracking apps, why nobody lets their kids walk to the store anymore, OpenAI finding a bugging device in its own office, the (probably fake) story of an AI “hacking its way” out of a sandbox, Getty Images going bankrupt because of AI stock photos, and the show closes out with an AI-generated song.

2. 

   13 Oct 2026

   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 how Section 702 surveillance works, the history of warrantless wiretapping programs dating back to the Bush administration, and a 2024 legal fight that gave the NSA secret, warrantless access to data centers and business networks nationwide. He also covers how FBI domestic extremism designations have shifted across administrations, the use of confidential informants in manufactured terror plots, and why he calls Flock Safety "the Wile E. Coyote of the ALPR world." The conversation closes with practical tools: how Restore the Fourth helps local communities pass surveillance oversight ordinances that force public hearings and annual re-approval before new technology gets deployed. Guest: Alex Marthews, National Chair, Restore the Fourth Website: https://restorethe4th.com/

3. 

   6 Oct 2026

   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 officers searching ALPR networks with reasons like "IDK" and keyboard mashing, and a wider rundown of how little those "safeguards" actually fix. From there, they look at a new front in AI-powered code enforcement: a company called City Detect is putting cameras on garbage trucks to assign homes a "blight score," with early data showing violations concentrated almost entirely in lower-income zip codes. They close out with Meta's Ray-Ban camera glasses and the plan to use them to train household robots, musings on AI-generated content flooding YouTube, and an update on a DC police union pushing back after internal affairs used Flock to secretly monitor officers under investigation.

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

YouTube views

3,851

Score snapshot 15 Sept 2025

Apple Podcasts (US)

5.0 / 5

2 ratings

Spotify

4.5 / 5

4 ratings

Podcast Authority Score: 60 / 100

A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.

Quality

80

Social presence

0

YouTube

68

Engagement

32

Contact Banish Big Brother

Guest appearances

Books guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.

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