Privacy’s Defenders Podcast: Cowboys, Cypherpunks and Visionaries
People are increasingly concerned about the ways in which mass surveillance is tracking our every move: from Flock license plate readers to face recognition to creepy ads that – based on what we see and do online – seem to know everything we’re thinking and planning. It didn’t have to be this way, and since the early days of the internet, a dedicated band of activists, lawyers and technologists…
Privacy has become a hot topic, with people growing increasingly worried about mass surveillance tracking their every digital move. This wasn't always the case, and for decades, a group of passionate activists, lawyers, and technologists have been fighting for a safer, more private digital future. Cindy Cohn, who has spent the last 26 years with the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF), including 11 years as its executive director, has been at the forefront of this fight.
In this inaugural episode of "Privacy's Defenders," a podcast exploring the individuals who have safeguarded your digital rights since before most people knew what the internet was, Cindy sits down with EFF co-founder John Gilmore. Together, they delve into Gilmore's role in creating EFF alongside Lotus Development co-founder Mitch Kapor and eccentric philosopher John Perry Barlow.
This trio emerged as a shield against government surveillance of early internet users, a story that began with the Secret Service's "Operation Sundevil" and the convergence of prominent tech figures, hippies, and lyricists in San Francisco's Haight-Ashbury district during the internet's nascent stages.
"Privacy's Defenders," inspired by Cindy's book of the same name, aims to capture the essence of the pivotal moments in the lives of those who have championed your digital rights. Sales of the book support EFF, so consider grabbing a copy to help defend your digital liberties. The episode features additional music by Nat Keefe of Hot Buttered Rum and archival sound from the Internet Archive.
Written by urgent.news from EFF Deeplinks's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
