This Week in Privacy
A weekly live podcast from Privacy Guides covering updates on what they're working on, privacy news from around the industry, and anything their community wants to share. Privacy Guides is a non-profit, impartial organization focused on delivering the best online privacy advice and building a strong privacy community.
Episodes
CalyxOS Is Officially Back!
CalyxOS is officially back with a stable release, A researcher has discovered Apple's Hide My Email feature can originating email addresses, the US Supreme Court has gutted the governments ability to use geofence warrants, and more! Join us for This Week In Privacy #60.
(00:00) - Intro
(00:39) - Start of podcast
(01:10) - CalyxOS is back - release 7.2.2.0 with full maintenance support
(18
No News is Good News? Q&A Episode
It's a quiet news week, so we're diving into questions from the community and discussing a few less interesting stories. Join us for This Week In Privacy #59
(00:00) - Intro
(00:39) - Start of podcast
(01:27) - Are there privacy advantages to desktop OS's vs GrapheneOS
(06:50) - Announcing Mozilla.org
(19:15) - Following user outcry, AMD reinstates memory encryption in consumer CPUs
(32:0
Android 17 for GrapheneOS is here! (sort of...)
Android 17 has officially launched and GrapheneOS has just announced an experimental build with a stable release coming soon (update Jun 19: delayed...), the United States controversial Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act has expired but spying will continue till March 2027, AMD has striped hardware cryptography from it's consumer CPUs and more! Join us for This Week In Privacy #58
(00:
License Plate Readers Are Framing Innocent People
Automated license readers by Flock have tied a person who was miles away to a violent crime effectively framing them, the state of Massachusetts in the US has passed a privacy bill to stop the sale of precise location data and more! Join us for This Week In Privacy #57.
(00:00) - Intro
(00:49) - Start of podcast
(01:14) - A flock license plate reader linked a San Diego man to a violent cr
GTA V Cheaters Just Got Exposed!
GTA V cheat service Atlas Menu just got hacked exposing thousands of gamers as cheaters, Microsoft is under fire for threatening a security researcher who disclosed vulnerabilities, hackers are using Meta's AI chatbot to seize control of Instagram accounts and more! Join us for This Week In Privacy #56.0:00 Intro0:43 Start of podcast1:47 Grand Theft Auto V cheat service gets hacked, expos
GrapheneOS is Taking Accessibility Seriously!
GrapheneOS has announced the public release for it's speech synthesis service, which is open source and created in house by the GrapheneOS team, meanwhile in America, California is moving to exempt Linux from it's age verification laws, a company is putting AI cameras in school buses across the United States, and more! Join us for This Week In Privacy #55.
(00:00) - Intro
(00:45) - Start
Google's Smart Glasses Are A Privacy Disaster
Google has announced Android XR it's new smart glasses platform, we'll dive into why this is such a threat to your privacy and why this announcement is so significant, Join us for This Week In Privacy #54!
(00:00) - Intro
(00:43) - Start of podcast
(01:11) - Google smart glasses are coming this fall
(27:52) - The FBI Wants to Buy Nationwide Access to License Plate Readers
(41:54) - Resear
Android 17 Is Looking Great for Privacy & Security
Google recently announced upcoming features for Android 17 which features new privacy & security upgrades, Signal is adding warnings to protect against phishing attacks, Windows Bitlocker has been broken by a new zero-day and more! Join us for This Week In Privacy #53
(00:00) - Intro
(00:43) - Start of podcast
(01:33) - What's New in Android Security and Privacy in 2026
(13:00) - Sign
CalyxOS Is (Almost) Back But Is It Any Better?
After an extended break - CalyxOS has come back and released test builds of Android 16 for their supported devices, Disneyland is using facial recognition software in their parks, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security compelled Google to share data about Canadians because of social media posts and much more! Join us for this Week In Privacy #52!
(00:00) - Intro
(00:37) - Start of podca
Is Ubuntu Becoming the New Windows?
Canonical has laid out it's plans to integrate "AI" features into Ubuntu Linux, Signal is working on a standalone desktop version, that doesn't require a smartphone, Greece is banning anonymity on social media and more! Join us for This Week In Privacy #51
(00:00) - Intro
(00:35) - Start of podcast
(01:13) - Ubuntu's AI Plans have Linux users looking for a 'kill switch'
(24:22) - Turkey t
Would You Pay $60 For A Browser? (ft. Firewalls Don't Stop Dragons)
This week we are joined by Carey Parker from Firewalls Don't Stop Dragons, Brave has announced a paid $60 version of Brave with bloatware and features stripped out, in the US - Nevada police are tracking phones locations without a warrant, and more! Join us for This Week In Privacy #50.
(00:00) - Intro
(00:36) - Start of podcast
(01:16) - Brave Origin strips web browser down to its core
Predictive AI w/ Carissa Véliz, Author of 'Privacy is Power' & 'Prophecy'
We recently interviewed Carissa Véliz, author of Privacy is Power and University of Oxford associate professor, to talk about how predictive AI will make a ‘meritocracy’ impossible, how lifelike chat bots are designed to deceive you, and the importance of privacy in the digital age. Her new book, ‘Prophecy,’ comes out on April 21st.View on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E00mNfH7
Are Privacy Opt-Outs Useless?
An independant privacy audit of Microsoft, Google and Meta has found that privacy opt outs didn’t have an effect, Cal.com has moved from open-source to closed-source, Netgear has been exempt from the FCC’s non-US made router ban, and more! Join us for This Week In Privacy #49.
(00:00) - Intro
(00:45) - Start of podcast
(01:19) - Google, Microsoft, Meta All Tracking You Even When You Opt O
Interview with EFF Executive Director Cindy Cohn
We recently interviewed Cindy Cohn, EFF Executive Director and author of her new memoir: “Privacy’s Defender: My Thirty-Year Fight Against Digital Surveillance”View on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-PFv0ki3nDcListen in your favorite podcast app: https://privacyinterviews.transistor.fm/episodes/defending-privacy-w-cindy-cohn-effs-executive-directorThe RSS feed for our audio inte
Why Does Microsoft Hate Security?
Microsoft is suspending developer accounts for key privacy tools like VeraCrypt and Wireguard, Employers are using your personal data to figure out the lowest salary you’ll accept, and more! Welcome to This Week In Privacy #48!
(00:00) - Intro
(00:45) - Start of podcast
(01:09) - Microsoft Abruptly Terminates VeraCrypt Account, Halting Windows Updates
(18:53) - Employers are using your pe
Claude Code Leaked It's Own Source Code
Anthropic’s Claude Code just leaked it’s own source code, ONLYOFFICE suspends Nextcloud partnership, LinkedIn scans your browser extensions, and more. Join us for This Week In Privacy #47!
(00:00) - Intro
(00:42) - Start of podcast
(01:19) - Entire Claude Code CLI source code leaks thanks to exposed map file
(18:43) - California bill would require parent bloggers to delete content of mino
The US Bans New Foreign Made Routers?!
The US’s Federal Communications Commission has banned all foreign made routers stating their are not secure for use. Walmart digital price labels are coming to every store shelf in the US, Systemd has integrated age verification systems, and more. Join us for This Week In Privacy #46!
(00:00) - Intro
(00:37) - Start of podcast
(01:13) - The US government just banned consumer routers made
New Exploit Affects 220 Million iPhones
The ‘dark sword’ exploit affects over 220 million iPhones running outdated iOS versions, the FBI is buying location data to track US citizens, a Tennessee grandmother was jailed after an AI facial recognition error linked her to fraud, and much more, join us for This Week In Privacy #45!
(00:00) - Intro
(00:51) - Start of the podcast
(01:42) - Hundreds of Millions of iPhones Can Be Hacked
Chat Control is Finally Dead?
European parliament MEPs vote to end untargeted mass scanning of private chats, is this the end of Chat Control? A new consortium wants to remove custom ROM hurdles with digital payment systems, and more! Join us for This Week In Privacy #44.
(00:00) - Intro
(00:44) - Start of podcast
(01:18) - Historic Chat Control Vote in the EU Parliament: MEPs Vote to End Untargeted Mass Scanning of P
GrapheneOS has a Hardware Partner!
GrapheneOS has announced who their official hardware partner is, a new US Californian law is says all operating systems must have age verification, and much more. Join us for This Week In Privacy #43!
(00:00) - Intro
(00:20) - Start of podcast
(00:57) - Motorola confirms GrapheneOS support for a future phone, bringing over features
(14:44) - iPhone and iPad aprpoved to handle classified N
Apple Rolls Out Age Verification Worldwide
Apple is verifying user’s ages to download R18+ apps and games on the app store globally to comply with age verification laws, people across the US are destroying and dismantling FLOCK cameras, Firefox has a new “block AI” switch to disable AI features, and much more. Join us for This Week In Privacy #42!
(00:00) - Intro
(00:21) - Start of podcast
(01:17) - Apple rolls out age-verificatio
Meta's Smart Glasses Just Got Creepier
Meta plans to add facial recognition technology to their smart glasses, popular password managers fall short of their “zero knowledge” claims, Apple is testing end-to-end encryption with RCS in iOS 26.4 beta, and much more. Join us for This Week In Privacy #41!
(00:00) - Intro
(00:20) - Start of podcast
(01:38) - Meta Plans to Add Facial Recognition Technology to Its Smart Glasses
(17:26)
Discord Wants Your ID!
Discord is facing backlash after requiring all users to provide ID to access age restricted servers and channels, this comes after Discord breached 70,000 of its users government ID documents, Apple is moving to remove anonymous chat apps from the App Store, and much more! Join us for This Week In Privacy #40.
(00:00) - Intro
(00:22) - Start of the podcast
(01:23) - Discord faces backlash
Apple's Lockdown Mode Blocked the FBI?
The FBI Couldn’t Get into a reporter’s iPhone because it had lockdown mode enabled, RAM shortages have hit Raspberry Pi prices, more countries are rolling out Australia style under 16 social media bans, and much more! Join us for This Week In Privacy #39.
(00:00) - Intro
(00:23) - Start of the podcast
(01:12) - FBI Couldn’t Get into WaPo Reporter’s iPhone Because It Had Lockdown Mode Enab
WhatsApp Is Not Really Encrypted?
WhatsApp encryption is coming under scrutiny, French lawmakers are pushing an under-15s social media ban, TikTok’s privacy policy has gotten worse after it has been bought by American investors, and much more! Join us for This Week In Privacy #38.
(00:00) - Intro
(00:21) - Start of podcast
(01:12) - Site updates
(04:47) - Lawsuit Alleges That WhatsApp Has No End-to-End Encryption
(19:04)
Why is Bitwarden Raising Prices?
Bitwarden is raising prices, Microsoft handed over encryption keys to the FBI, U.S. ICE agents are misidentifying people with facial recognition, and much more! Join us for This Week in Privacy #37!
(00:00) - Introduction
(00:22) - Start of Podcast
(01:50) - Site Updates
(04:42) - Bitwarden launches enhanced premium plan
(17:02) - Predator Spyware Turns Failed Attacks Into Intelligence fo
Did Signal's Founder Create the Most Private AI?
Moxie Marlinspike has created a private AI alternative called Confer, Windscribe has helped form a privacy alliance, Threema got acquired by Comitis Capital, E2EE comes to RCS messaging on iOS 26.3, and much more! Join us for This Week in Privacy #36!
(00:00) - Intro
(00:21) - Start of podcast
(01:10) - Site updates
(05:57) - Signal creator Moxie Marlinspike wants to do for AI what he did
Is Google Abandoning Open Source?
Google is changing how they release Android Open Source Project code, California is introducing a way for people to mass opt-out of data brokers, cryptocurrency theft attacks are still being traced to the 2022 Lastpass breach and much more! Join us for This Week in Privacy #35!
(00:00) - Intro
(00:19) - Start of podcast
(01:20) - Site updates
(05:08) - Breaking: Google will now only relea
What Will the EU Do Next?
Happy New Year! Join us for This Week in Privacy #34!
(00:00) - Intro
(00:23) - Start of podcast
(01:41) - Simon Harris says Ireland to lead EU drive for ID-verified social media
(22:20) - France targets Australia-style social media ban for children next year
(41:30) - Hacker claims to leak WIRED database with 2.3 million records
(48:35) - Texas father rescues kidnapped 15-year-old daught
Flock Exposes Mass Surveillance Cameras to the Internet
Happy holidays! Join us for This Week in Privacy #33!
(00:00) - Intro
(00:22) - Start of podcast
(01:09) - Site updates
(04:00) - Flock Exposed Its AI-Powered Cameras to the Internet
(23:14) - Pa. high court rules on Google searches without a warrant
(40:15) - EU prepares ground for wider data retention & VPN targets
(56:48) - Judge blocks Texas app store age verification law
(01:11:3
The West Is Trying To Destroy The Internet
The US is moving towards implementing unprecedented surveillance bills, Texas sues TV makers for taking screenshots of what people watch, UK lawmakers are targeting VPNs in the Online Safety Act debate, and much more! Join us for This Week in Privacy #32!
(00:00) - Intro
(00:22) - Start of podcast
(09:50) - UK MPs target VPNs in latest Online Safety Act debate
(18:13) - UK to “encourage”
Can You Get Arrested For Wiping Your Phone?
A man is being charged for wiping his phone before being arrested, India is considering enabling GPS tracking on all mobile devices, a remote code execution vulnerability is exploiting over 30 organisations and 70k IP addresses, RAM shortages are causing massive increases in RAM costs, and much more, join us for This Week In Privacy #31!
(00:00) - Intro
(00:22) - Start of podcast
(01:47)
Session Is Getting A Major Privacy & Security Boost!
Session Messenger is getting a major privacy & security upgrade, age verification laws are shifting responsibility onto App Stores, Apple rejects India’s government request to preload devices with a “cyber safety app”, and much more, join us for This Week In Privacy #30!
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GrapheneOS Desktop Mode is Here!
GrapheneOS now has expanded desktop mode features in beta, X (Twitter) has been doxing user’s locations, Android’s Quick Share is now compatible with Apple’s AirDrop and much more, join us for This Week In Privacy #29!
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We've Hired Someone New!
Welcoming Nate Bartram to Privacy Guides! Also: WhatsApp is rolling out interoperable messaging in the EU, Windows 11 is rolling out an AI agent that scans your files and folders, and much more. Join us for This Week In Privacy #28!
Nate has been publishing resources at The New Oil for many years now, and is the former host of the Surveillance Report podcast. We’re really excited about
Firefox Just Got More Privacy Defences!
Firefox is rolling out additional anti-fingerprinting detection, Chat Control is back and is being pushed through the EU Government, and much more. Join us for This Week In Privacy #27!
(00:00) - Intro
(00:19) - Start of podcast
(01:20) - Site updates
(05:10) - Mozilla's Firefox 145 is heeeeeere: Buffs up privacy, bloats AI
(13:15) - Firefox adds AI Window, users want AI wall to keep it o
Data Brokers Leak Location Data of Top EU Officials?
EU officials’ location data is up for sale, the United States declines to join the UN Cybercrime treaty, Chrome can now autofill your passport and drivers license, Tinder is scanning user’s camera rolls with AI to get to know them better, and much more. Join us for This Week In Privacy #26!
(00:00) - Intro
(00:18) - Start of podcast
(01:36) - Site updates
(05:49) - EU officials’ location
NOYB files criminal complaint against Clearview AI
Our top stories this week:
NOYB files criminal complaint against Clearview.ai
Denmark withdraws mandatory chat control proposal due to lack of support.
Apple to implement ads into Apple Maps in 2026, but warns that App Tracking Transparency could be disabled in the European Union
Police use Flock cameras to wrongfully accuse Denver woman of theft
Signal President Meredith Whittaker claim
OpenAI's Creepy All Seeing Browser
Our top stories this week:
OpenAI launches Atlas Browser for macOS
AWS shutdown shutters Signal and smart beds alike
Wisconsin lawmakers introduces VPN ban
Apple removes Tea and TeaOnHer on the App Store
https://www.privacyguides.org/livestreams/2025/10/25/openai-launches-creepy-ai-browser-aws-shutters-signal-and-smart-mattresses-u-s-states-introduce-vpn-ban-bills-and-more/
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Who is Building the Official GrapheneOS Phone?
Our top stories this week:
GrapheneOS confirms that will support a non-Pixel flagship phone in 2026 with the Snapdragon SOC
Eclypsium, an embedded security firm, reports that Framework laptops are vulnerable to a Secure Boot bug affecting around 200,000 devices
Mozilla implements Google Lens and Perplexity AI into Firefox
Researchers disclose a proof-of-concept attack called “Pixsnapping
The End of Windows Local Accounts?
Our top stories this week:
Microsoft blocks the ability to bypass online accounts on Windows 11
Germany confirms its opposition to Chat Control; the European Union withdraws the proposal due to insufficient support.
Hackers breach Discord support tickets, leaking 70,000 age verification documents
A group of American investors have acquired the NSO Group, giving a lifeline to the spyware
Could This Be the End of F-Droid?
Our top stories this week:
F-Droid warns that Google’s mandatory developer registration would destroy the project.
Google confirms that there will be free and paid tiers for developer registration. However, FOSS developers may need to pay after a certain number of downloads.
Apple receives another technical capabilities notice by the UK to implement a backdoor into iCloud’s Advanced Data
Who Really Owns Your TikTok Data Now?
https://www.privacyguides.org/livestreams/2025/09/27/who-really-owns-your-tiktok-data-now/
Our top stories this week:
A new report reveals that a TikTok deal has been signed. Oracle will hold a controlling stake and manage security of U.S. customer data despite concerns over their CEO’s supportive statements on mass surveillance.
Firefox 143 for Android will introduce DNS-Over-HTTPS, fin
Governments Tie Your Account to Your ID, Free Speech Dies
Governments are all trying to tie your accounts to your ID. Critics of Charlie Kirk are being doxxed, showing the problems with real name identification online and how it threatens free expression. Microsoft is forcing Microsoft Copilot onto every Windows PC, ChatGPT might soon require your ID, and much more. Join us for This Week In Privacy #19!
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Tor VPN and Signal Backups Beta Released
The Tor Project has officially released a new app called Tor VPN, Signal has released chat backup now in beta, Bluesky is caving to new age verification laws, and much more. Join us for This Week In Privacy #18!
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Proton is Launching Another Product Already?
Proton is rolling out Proton Meet to visionary subscribers, with a public release coming soon. Google avoids getting broken up in their anti-trust case but must share search data with competitors, Switzerland is creating their own “ethical” AI model and much more. Join us for This Week In Privacy #17!
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Could This Be the End of Android Sideloading?
Google is planning to require developers to verify their identity before their apps can be side-loaded. The FTC is warning tech giants not to bow to encryption backdoor pressure. A huge amount of malicious apps have been discovered on Google Play and much more. Join us for This Week In Privacy #16!
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Clickjacking: A Major Password Manager Flaw?
Is your password manager auto-fill extension leaking your secrets? Chat Control is back, and the EU council is set to vote on the proposal in two months. Encrypted messaging between Android and iOS devices is almost a reality, and much more. Join us for This Week In Privacy #15!
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Is YouTube's New AI Judging What You Watch?
YouTube is using AI to identify if you are underage to request age verification, GitHub just got less independent from Microsoft, Wikipedia might end up requiring age verification, and much more, join us for This Week In Privacy #14!
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CalyxOS Falters - What's Next for Custom Android?
CalyxOS has announced they will be pausing their releases, Google is cracking open android after they were found to have an illegal monopoly, Firefox extensions are being used for phishing attacks and much more, join us for This Week In Privacy #13!
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ID Verification - A Major Threat to Privacy
Tea, a dating and women’s safety app had a huge breach of it’s users ID documents, highlighting how risky adding ID verification can be when it comes to user privacy. The UK is cracking down on VPNs after their usage has skyrocketed due to age verification, the Australian government is threatening Signal, and much more, join us for This Week In Privacy #12!
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Proton Released A New Privacy Product?
Proton released a new privacy product called Lumo, the UK is backing down on it’s ban on Apple’s ADP, Mastodon just got a neat feature to increase it’s sustainability and much more, join us for This Week In Privacy #11!
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Chrome OS & Android Are Merging?
ChromeOS & Android are merging, Chrome extensions are being used as infostealers, Linux reaches 5% marketshare and much more. Welcome back to This Week In Privacy #10!
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The End of Anonymous Search?
Search engines may start requiring ID verification in Australia. The sustainable smartphone, the Fairphone 6, has finally landed in the US. Law enforcement in a certain country is targeting GrapheneOS users, and much more. Welcome back to This Week In Privacy #9!
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Skiff Mail is shutting down
Livestreamed on February 11, 2024
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Australian Traffic Drones, Edge Stealing Tabs, & More!
Livestreamed on February 7, 2024
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The police are using fake AI faces to identify suspects, Mozilla is angry, & More!
Livestreamed on January 27, 2024
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v3.19 Update, Swiss Surveillance, Brave Updates & More!
Livestreamed on January 20, 2024
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AirDrop Encryption Cracked, Reddit asked for IPs, & More...
Livestreamed on January 13, 2024
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Age Verification Laws, Surveillance Legislation, & More...
Livestreamed on January 6, 2024
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Congress Pulls Surveillance Bill, LogoFAIL Exploit, & More...
Livestreamed on December 16, 2023 on YouTube.
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This Week in Privacy #1
Livestreamed on December 9, 2023
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