The Privacy Files

Jason Rowe
  • 0.0 (0)
  • TECHNOLOGY
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

The latest in data privacy news with unique insights, strategies and tools you won't find anywhere else. pendingdeletion7122b641851c400.substack.com

  1. 09/08/2025

    The Privacy Files | Episode 19

    In this episode of The Privacy Files, we’re diving deep into the rise of Flock Safety, the AI-powered license plate reader system sweeping across neighborhoods across the U.S. Is it a brilliant crime deterrent… or the next-gen surveillance Trojan horse we’ve been warned about? We’ll break down: * What Flock really is (beyond the polished marketing) * How it works technically — and legally * What makes it far more dangerous than your average Ring cam * The massive Fourth Amendment gray area that makes this all possible * How it's already being used — and abused * And what happens when systems like this scale into smart cities, predictive policing, and behavioral surveillance 👀 Spoiler alert: We’re not just talking about tracking cars… we’re talking about tracking you — without a warrant, and without your knowledge. This is the surveillance conversation Big Tech doesn’t want you having. 🔥 Mentioned in This Episode Here’s everything I referenced, plus the tools I use and recommend to protect yourself in the age of hyper-surveillance: 🛡️ Digital Privacy Tools & Resources * 📬 5-Day Privacy Reset Email Mini-Course (Free)Want to start your privacy journey? This free email course walks you through your first 5 days of reclaiming your digital life. * 🗓️ The Personal Privacy PlannerA step-by-step custom system to help you take control of your digital footprint in just minutes per day. Seriously — this will change how you operate online. * 📄 Clarity – The Terms of Service AnalyzerEver agree to terms you didn’t read? Clarity analyzes them for you and exposes the hidden data grabs. * 🔐 The Vault: The Ultimate Privacy Tool StackEverything I personally use to live a privacy-first life — tools, services, checklists, and exclusive video walkthroughs. * 🧠 Firewall Insider – Private Email List & Inner CircleStay ahead of the curve. Weekly deep dives, zero-BS privacy advice, and member-only content straight to your inbox. * 📱 Above Phone – The Privacy-First Phone PlatformWant to ditch Big Tech on your phone? This is the most powerful de-Googled phone on the market — I use it every day. * 🕵️ Aura Identity Protection (63% Off)My go-to for real-time dark web monitoring, ID theft alerts, and customizable privacy protection. Aura found breaches I didn’t even know existed — highly recommended. * ☕ Buy Me a Coffee – Support the ShowLike what you’re hearing? Support my work and help me keep the signal alive in a noisy, data-hungry world. 💬 What You’ll Learn Today * Why Flock Safety is not just a camera system — it’s a networked, cloud-based surveillance platform * How “we don’t track people” is marketing spin — and what’s really happening behind the scenes * What the Third-Party Doctrine means for your privacy rights * Why smart cities + private surveillance = dangerous AF * How predictive policing systems can bake in bias at scale * What you can actually do if your city or neighborhood is already using Flock * My personal data privacy workflow and tools I trust 🎧 Subscribe & Share If this episode made you think — or freaked you out in a useful way — here’s how you can help: ✅ Like & review the show on your favorite podcast platform✅ Share this episode with someone who still thinks surveillance is “just for safety”✅ Tag me on social and tell me what you found when you ran your own data exposure check✅ Subscribe to the newsletter so you never miss another breakdown Hit that subscribe button.The privacy war is just getting started.And The Privacy Files is your front-line briefing. Get full access to Beyond The Firewall at beyondthefirewall.substack.com/subscribe

    43 min
  2. The Privacy Files | Episode 18

    09/01/2025

    The Privacy Files | Episode 18

    In this episode of Privacy Files, we break down the truth about the subscription model. What started as “convenience” has morphed into a system of surveillance pipelines and kill switches. Subscriptions don’t just bill you—they track you, profile you, and, in many cases, give corporations the power to shut off features you already paid for. We’ll cover: * How the shift from ownership to “access” created a perfect cover for constant monitoring * Why subscription data is the lifeblood of modern AI surveillance models * The rise of kill switch capitalism — Tesla, Adobe, and even medical devices you don’t truly own * Why the right to opt out is disappearing—and what that means for your privacy * Who actually benefits: corporations, data brokers, and governments * And how you can start resisting the trap with smarter choices Resources & Alternatives 🔹 Office & Productivity * LibreOffice (MS Office alternative): https://www.libreoffice.org * OnlyOffice: https://www.onlyoffice.com 🔹 Creative Tools * GIMP (Photoshop alternative): https://www.gimp.org * Krita (Illustration & digital painting): https://krita.org * Inkscape (Vector graphics/Illustrator alternative): https://inkscape.org * Blender (3D creation suite, Autodesk alternative): https://www.blender.org 🔹 Media & Streaming * Jellyfin (Netflix/Plex alternative): https://jellyfin.org * Kodi (Media center): https://kodi.tv 🔹 Cloud & Storage * Nextcloud (Google Drive/Dropbox alternative): https://nextcloud.com * Proton Drive (privacy-focused cloud): https://proton.me/drive 🔹 General Open Source Resources * AlternativeTo (directory for open source & privacy-respecting apps): https://alternativeto.net Partners & Support ✅ Protect yourself with Aura — all-in-one identity & privacy protection (63% discount for listeners): Get Aura🔎 Explore Clarity → myclarity.us🛒 50% Off Digital Privacy Tools → beyondthefirewall.gumroad.com📬 Become a Firewall Insider → beyondthefirewall.substack.com/subscriber☕ Support the show → buymeacoffee.com/beyondthefirewall Be sure to subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts! Get full access to Beyond The Firewall at beyondthefirewall.substack.com/subscribe

    31 min
  3. The Privacy Files: Deep Cover | Episode 17

    08/25/2025

    The Privacy Files: Deep Cover | Episode 17

    In this Deep Cover episode of The Privacy Files, I take a hard look at the Patriot Act, the 300+ page law passed just 45 days after 9/11 that permanently altered the balance between privacy and surveillance in America. I break down: * How Section 215 legalized bulk collection of phone and internet records * The rise of roving wiretaps and why they matter for modern digital tracking * “Sneak-and-peek” searches and how they became routine outside of terrorism cases * The culture shift that normalized dragnet surveillance * The role of Palantir and other private contractors in turning surveillance into an industry Twenty years later, we’re still living inside the world the Patriot Act created. Resources & Links 🔎 Explore Clarity → myclarity.us 🛒 50% Off Digital Privacy Tools → beyondthefirewall.gumroad.com Use Code: AUGUST50 at checkout 📬 Become a Firewall Insider (weekly exclusive content + bonuses) → beyondthefirewall.substack.com/insider50 ☕ Support the show → buymeacoffee.com/beyondthefirewall Be sure to subscribe where ever you listen to podcasts! We’re on Substack, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Youtube Beyond The Firewall is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Get full access to Beyond The Firewall at beyondthefirewall.substack.com/subscribe

    33 min
  4. The Privacy Files | Episode 16

    08/11/2025

    The Privacy Files | Episode 16

    In this special Deep Cover edition of Privacy Files, we unpack the chilling story of Hannah Mossman Moore, a jewelry designer whose life was derailed after a chance meeting at London Fashion Week. What began as a casual professional introduction to Kin Hung spiraled into a years-long harassment campaign — abusive emails, fake profiles, impersonation, and targeted smears that spread to her family. We break down the timeline, the investigation led by journalist Carole Cadwalladr in the BBC podcast Stalked, and why this case is a stark reminder that digital harassment doesn’t always require hacking — sometimes, it’s about weaponizing identity itself. What You’ll Learn in This Episode * How online impersonation can be as damaging as direct hacking * The role linguistic forensics and IP tracing played in the BBC’s investigation * Why law enforcement often struggles with cross-border online harassment cases * Practical, non-generic tactics you can use to reduce your attack surface * How to prepare your friends and family so they can’t be turned against you Resources & Links * Have I Been Pwned? – Check if your email or phone number appears in known breacheshttps://haveibeenpwned.com * DeleteMe – Subscription service to remove your personal data from data broker siteshttps://joindeleteme.com * Spokeo Monitoring – Monitor for new appearances of your info in public databaseshttps://www.spokeo.com/monitor * Aura – Identity theft protection & monitoringhttps://www.aura.com * Mozilla Monitor – Free tool to track when your name or other key terms appear onlinehttps://monitor.mozilla.org * Clarity - My Terms of Service and Privacy Policy analyzer https://myclarity.us Follow & Support 🎙 Subscribe to The Privacy Files wherever you listen to podcasts📬 Sign up for Beyond the Firewall on Substack🛒 Summer Sale – 50% off all privacy & security products atbeyondthefirewall.gumroad.com Use Code: AUGUST50 Ready to Join the Inner Circle? Become a Firewall Insider Get full access to Beyond The Firewall at beyondthefirewall.substack.com/subscribe

    29 min
  5. The Privacy Files | Episode 15

    08/04/2025

    The Privacy Files | Episode 15

    This episode, we're pulling back the layers on the UK’s Online Safety Act—a law that claims to protect the public but is structurally designed to control speech, break encryption, and export a new censorship model worldwide. From forced compliance filters to encryption backdoors disguised as “safety features,” we explore how this law sets a dangerous precedent—not just for the UK, but for every country watching closely. Topics Covered: * The Trojan Horse of “Online Safety” – How regulation is being weaponized to control digital speech * Why the Act’s definition of “legal but harmful” content is a censorship loophole * The encryption backdoor debate and the illusion of client-side scanning as a privacy solution * How Big Tech will normalize these compliance systems globally * The chilling effect on journalism, whistleblowers, and dissent * What you can actually do—mindset shifts, practical privacy tools, and pushing back against passive consumption 🔗 Referenced Resources: * UK Online Safety Act Overview * Signal’s Threat to Exit UK Over Encryption * EFF on the UK’s Surveillance Proposals * Privacy International's Response to OSA * Citizen Lab on Encryption and Client-Side Scanning 🛡️ Recommended Apps for Tracker Blocking: For Android: * TrackerControl (F-Droid) * RethinkDNS + Firewall For iOS: * Lockdown Privacy * Guardian Firewall + VPN 🚨 Go Deeper — Firewall Insider Tier Become a Firewall Insider and get: * Exclusive access to The Firewall Report app (threat intel, curated tools, no-nonsense insights) * Members-only podcast episodes and deep dives * A digital copy of The No BS Guide to Securing Your Network * 20% off all my digital products and workshops Upgrade on Substack Here 🆕 Clarity Is Now Live A project designed to help you simplify Terms of Service and Privacy Policies. Explore Clarity 🎧 Available on Substack, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and everywhere else they haven’t filtered us yet. Get full access to Beyond The Firewall at beyondthefirewall.substack.com/subscribe

    33 min

  6. 07/28/2025

    The Privacy Files: Deep Cover Edition

    In this special edition of Privacy Files, we're launching Deep Cover—a new format that goes beneath the headlines and straight into the mechanisms of control. This episode uncovers a surveillance weapon deployed against journalists, lawyers, activists, politicians, and ordinary people—all without a single click. Most have heard the name.Very few understand what it actually did.Even fewer realize how close they are to being next. You’ll hear exactly how this zero-click spyware bypassed encrypted apps, burrowed into devices, and turned freedom of expression into a traceable vulnerability—used by governments who had everything to lose. We name names. We draw the lines. We expose the machine. This is Deep Cover.Welcome inside. 🔗 Referenced in this episode: * 🕵️ Pegasus Project by Forbidden Stories & Amnesty International * 🧪 Citizen Lab Pegasus analysis * 🧑‍⚖️ Apple’s lawsuit against NSO Group * 🔍 WhatsApp vs. NSO legal action * 🧰 Amnesty Mobile Verification Toolkit (MVT) 🛡️ Recommended Apps to Identify & Block Trackers 📲 For Android: * TrackerControl (F-Droid) – Blocks hidden tracking by intercepting network requests. * RethinkDNS + Firewall – A powerful local DNS firewall with tracker detection and blocking. * Blokada 5 (F-Droid) – Blocks ads, trackers, and malicious traffic system-wide without root access. 🍏 For iPhone (iOS): * Lockdown Privacy – App and DNS-level blocking of trackers and analytics tools. * Guardian Firewall + VPN – Commercial-grade firewall that detects and blocks data leaks in real-time. * 1Blocker – Advanced content and tracker blocker for Safari and web traffic. 🔐 Also Mentioned in This Episode: * 📲 Above Phone – Private, De-Googled Phones (partnered recommendation) * 📕 The Firewall Insider Tier on Substack – Get: * Access to The Firewall Report app * Weekly members-only deep dives * Digital copy of The No BS Guide to Securing Your Network * 20% off all digital products * 🌐 Clarity – Jason’s New Project (Live Now) 🎧 New episodes every week.Available on Substack, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and wherever you still have a little control left. Get full access to Beyond The Firewall at beyondthefirewall.substack.com/subscribe

    41 min
  7. The Privacy Files | Episode 13

    07/21/2025

    The Privacy Files | Episode 13

    🔍 What We Covered This week on The Privacy Files, we break down how the latest moves from OpenAI, Grok, and the DOD are quietly reshaping the future of data privacy. This isn’t science fiction anymore—it’s the infrastructure of your daily life. AI agents. Persistent surveillance. Systems that train on your habits, your voice, and your metadata. And most of the time? You gave them permission. We’re cutting through the hype and giving you actionable, practical ways to survive and thrive in this new AI-first world. 🔧 Tools + Resources From the Show 🛠️ Stop Feeding the Beast * How to disable voice personalization (Alexa) * Apple's ad personalization settings * Google activity controls 🧠 Use AI With Boundaries * LM Studio (Local LLMs) * Ollama (Run models locally) * PrivateGPT * Proton VPN 🧑‍💻 Monitor What AI Sees Behind the Curtain * Little Snitch for macOS * GlassWire for Windows * NextDNS (Custom DNS firewall + logs) 🧪 Don’t Just Block—Analyze * [Clarity Privacy Analyzer – COMING SOON]A free tool to break down Terms of Service and Privacy Policies, rank app risk levels, and flag malicious links or docs. 🔐 Control Your Personal Narrative * Google Alerts (Monitor your name) * NameCheckr (Username + domain scan) * DeleteMe (Remove yourself from data brokers) 🔗 Other Resources * Buy Me a Coffee — Support the mission + development of tools like Clarity * The Personal Privacy Planner — Build your privacy system from scratch 🧱 Join the Movement Want to go deeper, get real-time cyber alerts, exclusive content, and early access to new tools like Clarity? Become a Firewall Insider — and be part of a growing community of privacy advocates pushing for awareness and action.👉 Subscribe or Upgrade Here Get full access to Beyond The Firewall at beyondthefirewall.substack.com/subscribe

    37 min
  8. The Privacy Files | Episode 12

    07/14/2025

    The Privacy Files | Episode 12

    This week, I’m back from vacation and diving into the madness that unfolded while I was away. We’re breaking down: * Google’s not-so-private location tracking (even after opt-outs) * Amazon’s silent collection of voice data * Louis Vuitton’s data breach fallout * McDonald’s job applicant leak (and what it says about job boards like LinkedIn and Indeed) * And a first look at Clarity—my new Terms of Service analyzer app Become a Firewall Insider to enjoy all that Beyond The Firewall has to offer! Click the link below 👇 🔧 Tools Mentioned in the Episode 📸 Exif Data Tools (Metadata Scrubbing) * ExifTool (Windows/macOS/Linux) * Image Scrubber (Web-Based) * Photo Metadata Remover (iOS) * Scrambled Exif (Android) 🛰️ GPS Spoofing Apps * Fake GPS Location (Android) * iGo Virtual Location (iOS/macOS) 🔐 DNS/Network Filtering * NextDNS – Encrypted DNS + advanced tracker/ad blocking for all devices 📬 Private Email Aliases * ProtonMail / Proton Pass – Secure email with built-in aliasing + identity protection 🧠 Bonus Resources * The Personal Privacy Planner — Build your own privacy-first system step-by-step * Buy Me a Coffee ☕ — Support the mission, keep the podcast ad-free, and help fund projects like Clarity 💬 Engage with the Show What story hit hardest this week?Are we entering a new phase of corporate surveillance—or just getting better at spotting it?And what features would you want in a privacy tool like Clarity? Let me know in the comments or message me securely me on Signal - btfprivacy.87 Get full access to Beyond The Firewall at beyondthefirewall.substack.com/subscribe

    55 min
See All (31)

About

The latest in data privacy news with unique insights, strategies and tools you won't find anywhere else. pendingdeletion7122b641851c400.substack.com

Information

  • Creator
    Jason Rowe
  • Years Active
    2K
  • Episodes
    31
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Jason Rowe
  • Show Website
    The Privacy Files