Author name: 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.

Georgia’s Two Paths: Phasing Out School Zone Speed Cameras or Expanding Them

Georgia lawmakers are debating two bills right now that offer radically different futures when it comes to automated surveillance in school zones. One bill — HB 225 — would eventually ban the use of speed cameras in school zones. The other — HB 651 — would expand them, empower prosecutors to collect from them, and […]

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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, DeepSeek, in military hospitals and

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James Dutton Challenges School Zone Speed Cameras at Georgia Senate Hearing

Banish Big Brother board member James Dutton recently testified before the Georgia Senate Committee on Public Safety, delivering a powerful challenge to the state’s school zone speed camera program. In just two years, Spalding County issued over 90,000 tickets through this automated system — without improving safety, but at the cost of due process, privacy,

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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 has an uplifting twist. While the

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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 programmable money. Plus, we explore the latest developments

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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 detection technology and the broader implications of replacing invasive systems with something “new

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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 begins, hitting drivers with steep tolls and raising concerns about economic fallout. Explore

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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 U.S. surveillance “Iron Dome” signals a massive expansion in monitoring

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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 claims to predict your exact time of death based on

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Hidden Risks in Georgia Senate’s AI Report

The Georgia Senate Study Committee on AI has released its recommendations, covering topics such as data privacy, deepfake technology, AI transparency, and law enforcement applications. While the report aims to be forward-thinking, certain proposals raise concerns about privacy, liberty, and potential government overreach. The report reflects a familiar pattern in government regulations, where strict rules

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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 and discuss how AI-generated art and music are shaping the

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