EFFector

When we need medical care, we expect decisions about our treatment to be made by our doctors, not a tech company's algorithm. But in January, the federal government launched a program that uses AI to approve requests for certain services under Medicare.EFF sued for records on WISeR, seeking badly needed transparency about this experimental AI program. What we found were improper denials, operational chaos, and lengthy delays that have left patients waiting in pain.On this episode, we're talking to EFF's Lena Cohen about what happens when the government outsources treatment approval to private AI companies—without sufficient transparency, testing, or legal limits.EFFector is a podcast by the Electronic Frontier Foundation, the leading nonprofit defending online civil liberties. Support our work today at https://eff.org/podfan.0:00 Intro4:19 The Problems With Medicare's AI Experiment With Lena Cohen16:33 How to Have a Conversation About Online Privacy24:34 EFF Events and Opportunities

When we give our private information to the government to pay taxes, apply for a job, or vote, we should be able to trust that our data won't later be used against us. But in a betrayal of that trust, the federal government has been pooling the information it has about us on an unprecedented scale—and using it for purposes we never agreed to.EFF and other groups are fighting back. On this episode, we're talking to EFF's F. Mario Trujillo about a recent victory in our lawsuit against the government for sharing federal workers' confidential personnel files with DOGE.EFFector is a podcast by the Electronic Frontier Foundation, the leading nonprofit defending online civil liberties. Support our work today at https://eff.org/podfan.0:00 Intro4:17 Resisting the Menace of Government Data Consolidation with F. Mario Trujillo18:00 How to Block Ad Trackers23:17 EFF Events and Opportunities

No one should have to think twice before posting a meme criticizing the government. But a mass surveillance program known as "Catch and Revoke" was created to make millions do just that.EFF and other defenders of free speech are fighting back. On this episode, we're talking to EFF's Lisa Femia about how the government is using AI to suppress protected speech online—and the important lawsuit she and others are working on to stop it.EFFector is a podcast by the Electronic Frontier Foundation, the leading nonprofit defending online civil liberties. Support our work today at https://eff.org/podfan.0:00 Intro6:19 The Lawsuit Challenging "Catch and Revoke" with Lisa Femia19:27 Celebrating Opt Out October28:11 EFF Events and Opportunities

With the launch of iOS 27, Apple is rolling out a variety of new AI features to its familiar voice assistant, Siri. But how are AI tools like these handling our data? And what can we do to make sure our private information stays private?On this episode, we're talking to EFF's Thorin Klosowski about the privacy complications of AI phone features—and how to limit what data Siri AI can access.EFFector is a podcast by the Electronic Frontier Foundation, the leading nonprofit defending online civil liberties. Support our work today at https://eff.org/podfan.0:00 Intro6:05 How to Limit What Apple’s New Siri AI Can Access with Thorin Klosowski18:16 Flock ALPR News Quiz24:16 EFF Events and Opportunities

Around the country and across the political spectrum, people are pushing back against Flock cameras. After years of license plate readers quietly proliferating on our streets, dozens of communities have terminated their Flock contracts in the last month alone.Joining them are Texas and Florida, which recently announced state action stepping back from these surveillance systems. On this episode, we're talking to EFF's Adam Schwartz about what comes next and how we can make sure that today's backlash leads to lasting change.EFFector is a podcast by the Electronic Frontier Foundation, the leading nonprofit defending online civil liberties. Support our work today at https://eff.org/podfan.0:00 Intro4:24 Flock and the Surveillance Backlash with Adam Schwartz20:18 License Plate Reader Quiz24:58 EFF Events and Opportunities