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, DeepSeek, in military hospitals and non-combat roles, and why that’s probably just the beginning.
Back home, we talk about Atlanta-based Flock Safety and the expansion of license plate-reading cameras across the country, despite evidence they may not even reduce crime. We also cover Georgia’s fight over school zone speed cameras and how both state legislation and the courts are shaping up on this issue.
Finally, we end on a weird but fascinating note: a journalist discovers her date used AI to build an 8-page psychological profile on her — is this the new normal for online dating?
Zach Varnell
Zach Varnell is a cybersecurity expert and advocate for privacy and individual liberty. He is a founding member of Banish Big Brother, a nonprofit dedicated to combating invasive surveillance. He also runs Asteros, a security firm that helps software teams and compliance-driven organizations understand and reduce their real-world risk. His insights have been featured in publications like Infosecurity Magazine, Threatpost, ZDNET, and the Washington Examiner.