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PODCAST

Banish Big Brother

Zach Varnell, Elizabeth Melton

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

technology tech news

All Episodes

1:11:17

Flock Offers Buyouts as the Backlash Keeps Growing

Banish Big Brother ·

2026/10/06

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

en-US

1:10:04

The Surveillance State Doesn’t Need Your Permission...

Banish Big Brother ·

2026/09/03

In this episode of Banish Big Brother, Zach and Elizabeth cover the escalating tactics of the surveillance state and the creative ways people are fighting back.They start with the shocking news out of Oakland, where police are obtaining warrants to physically tow bystanders' Teslas just to extract their Sentry Mode video footage. That opens up a wider conversation about automotive kill switches, the 2027 federal mandate for spy tech in new vehicles, Thomas Massie's fight against it, and

en-US

1:12:56

The Surveillance State Is Bigger Than Flock

Banish Big Brother ·

2026/08/27

Flock cameras may be getting all the attention, but what else is happening behind the scenes?In this episode of Banish Big Brother, Zach and Elizabeth look at the growing surveillance infrastructure being built into everyday life. We discuss a Wisconsin police department installing Flock cameras without notifying city leaders, a Tennessee sheriff refusing license plate readers because the cost to freedom is too high, and the Institute for Justice's new database documenting abuses of automated

en-US

1:13:14

Flock in Crisis PR Mode: Copaganda & Fake...

Banish Big Brother ·

2026/08/20

In this episode of Banish Big Brother, Zach and Elizabeth are joined by “educator and agitator” Ethan Watters from Flockout SAV. They discuss the Savannah mayor’s refusal to hold open public comment periods and the shocking revelation that 28% of the Savannah Police Department’s budget is heavily allocated to surveillance. They break down Flock Safety’s […]

en-US

1:10:18

Flock’s Propaganda Is Backfiring

Banish Big Brother ·

2026/08/13

Zach and Elizabeth dive into the escalating pushback against Flock cameras and the government’s attempts to control the narrative. They break down a Colorado intelligence memo attempting to link the anti-surveillance movement to extremists, and analyze Flock’s sneaky new Terms and Conditions that allow the company to sell your data and retain it perpetually. They […]

en-US

1:29:09

FBI Data Says Flock Cameras Don’t Actually Solve Crime

Banish Big Brother ·

2026/08/04

Zach and Elizabeth walk through a tour of a real-time crime center and what it actually revealed, then dig into the data behind the “these cameras keep us safe” pitch. New FBI numbers show Flock’s home turf of Atlanta has one of the largest camera networks in the country and some of the worst clearance […]

en-US

1:49:14

The For-Profit Surveillance Machine: School Zone...

Banish Big Brother ·

2026/07/23

James Dutton, the attorney who took Georgia’s automated school zone speed cameras all the way to the state Supreme Court (twice), joins Zach and Elizabeth for a deep dive into how for-profit surveillance actually works on the ground. James breaks down how out-of-state corporations like Vera Mobility structure these ticket programs, why the burden of […]

en-US

00:54:43

The War on Flock Cameras

Banish Big Brother ·

2026/07/15

Zach and Elizabeth dig into the wave of Americans cutting down, vandalizing, and outright destroying flock cameras across the country, from an Air Force engineer facing charges to a man who replaced a downed cameras with American flags. They break down why jury nullification could matter for anyone charged in these cases, and cover a […]

en-US

00:59:55

Bitcoin Power Hypocrisy, Orbital Datacenters & Moon...

Banish Big Brother ·

2026/07/10

Jake Green of Peaceful Sea Productions joins Zach and Elizabeth for a wide-ranging tour through the surveillance state’s latest toys. They start with a throwback: the 2013-era panic over Bitcoin’s energy use, and why nobody in the media seems bothered that AI data centers now consume vastly more power with a fraction of the outrage. […]

en-US

00:56:21

Spy on Everyone to Protect the Children: Flock,...

Banish Big Brother ·

2026/06/27

A Texas town council member throws a public tantrum after his city votes to cancel its Flock contract, and the resulting “Bandera Declaration of Digital Independence” is as unhinged as it sounds. Zach and Elizabeth break down the logical fallacies packed into one man’s attempt to equate mass license plate surveillance with your personal Ring […]

en-US

00:52:10

Open Records Are Taking Down Flock Cameras

Banish Big Brother ·

2026/01/26

The pitch for Flock is always the same: “If you’ve done nothing wrong, you’ve got nothing to hide.” Then a court says the footage is public record, and suddenly cities start unplugging the cameras. In this episode, Zach Varnell and Elizabeth Melton walk through the public records rulings that are forcing Flock programs into crisis […]

en-US

1:14:28

The Guy Who Ripped Out a License Plate Reader (And...

Banish Big Brother ·

2025/06/09

Zach and Elizabeth break down the surreal case of a Missouri county commissioner facing felony charges for removing a license plate reader — even though the county had already banned them. That sparks a deeper conversation about public surveillance, Flock cameras, inflated government tech contracts, and the illusion of “safety.” Then they shift to the […]

en-US

1:12:08

The Good News Episode

Banish Big Brother ·

2025/02/24

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 […]

en-US

1:08:28

The Fall of CBDCs (For Now) and the Rise of Quantum...

Banish Big Brother ·

2025/02/03

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 […]

en-US

48:30

New Orleans Pushes for “European Style” Surveillance...

Banish Big Brother ·

2025/01/21

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 […]

en-US

1:04:06

AI Denies Healthcare Coverage & USA’s Surveillance...

Banish Big Brother ·

2024/12/19

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 […]

en-US

1:19:04

Border Surveillance Towers, AI Legislation Looms, &...

Banish Big Brother ·

2024/12/09

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 […]

en-US

1:08:30

Real-World Use of Meshtastic Off-Grid Comms & Lawsuit...

Banish Big Brother ·

2024/10/28

TSA’s new facial recognition system is here, and Zach shares his recent experience opting out of it with ease. We dive into how to protect your privacy during routine travel and why so few people realize they can opt out. Next, we cover mesh network radios and Zach’s experience using Mesh-tastic devices at a packed […]

en-US

1:04:44

Trolls Roast the Chicken Registry & AI Sentience vs...

Banish Big Brother ·

2024/10/14

UK chicken owners have to register their birds—and pranksters were ready to troll. From roast chickens crashing government websites to the absurd penalties for non-compliance, civil disobedience takes a hilarious turn. We also dive into AI, from robots bartending to AI-generated art confusing the internet. Plus, how AI feedback loops could degrade search results. Finally, […]

en-US

1:01:16

AI Falls in Love with Married Man & Glasses Instantly...

Banish Big Brother ·

2024/10/07

We unpack how cutting-edge technology is reshaping our reality. From AI chatbots eerily professing love to users, to facial recognition tools that can identify strangers on the street, this episode dives into the unsettling ways tech is pushing the boundaries of personal privacy. Plus, we explore how governments and companies may be using backdoor methods […]

en-US

29 results

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