Has modern brain wave technology made the Thought Police of George Orwell’s fictional novel, 1984, a possible reality? One may find the idea extraordinary but Nita Farahany, in her presentation at the 2023 World Economic Forum, demonstrated that using AI-powered technologies for brain transparency is not only possible, it is already here. While this ability […]
Surveillance of Thought Read More »
Governments have been making the same pitch for centuries. We’ll take a little of your liberty, and in return we’ll give you safety. It’s not a new argument. It just has better branding and more antennas now. Systems like Flock cameras are sold as the latest version of that old bargain. Some privacy loss, we’re
51 Reasons to Doubt Flock Safety: A Security Audit of the Surveillance State Read More »
Recent announcements that the federal government is enlisting the services of data-integration and analytics company, Palantir, are raising eyebrows across the political spectrum. Depicted as a tool through which to fulfill Donald Trump’s executive order entitled “Stopping Waste, Fraud, and Abuse by Eliminating Information Silos,” the partnership would realize this goal by merging disparate databases
Palantir: Efficiency or Surveillance? Read More »
Montana is on the verge of enacting the strongest brain privacy law in the nation. Senate Bill 163 — which has now passed both chambers of the state legislature — expands Montana’s Genetic Information Privacy Act to include protections for neurotechnology data. That means your brainwaves, mental states, nervous system signals, and cognitive patterns —
Montana Advances Nation’s First Brainwave Privacy Law Read More »
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
Georgia’s Two Paths: Phasing Out School Zone Speed Cameras or Expanding Them Read More »
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,
James Dutton Challenges School Zone Speed Cameras at Georgia Senate Hearing Read More »
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
The Good News Episode Read More »
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
The Fall of CBDCs (For Now) and the Rise of Quantum Threats Read More »
We’re excited to share an incredible resource with our community! The documentary SMART: Coming to a City Near You was created by Banish Big Brother’s own Elizabeth Melton. It dives deep into the critical issues surrounding smart city technology, surveillance, and the growing threats to privacy and freedom. This thought-provoking film is a must-watch for
Watch “SMART: Coming to a City Near You” Read More »
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
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
Border Surveillance Towers, AI Legislation Looms, & App Predicts Your Death Read More »
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
Hidden Risks in Georgia Senate’s AI Report Read More »
