Host Misha da Vinci and Tom Kemp author of Containing Big Tech: How to Protect Our Civil Rights, Economy, and Democracy discuss the influence and impacts of big tech on our lives, touching on privacy concerns, data collection, surveillance, and steps individuals can take to protect their privacy.

They discuss the hegemony of big tech companies over data collection in detail and how this unchecked power can lead to potentially harmful impacts on society.

Tom shares his personal journey into tech and his experiences in Silicon Valley and as an angel investor. He asserts the urgent need for legislation and consumer education to combat rampant data collection and digital surveillance persisting in today's societies.

00:00 Introduction and Podcast Goals

00:51 Guest Introduction: Tom Kemp

01:58 Tom's Journey to Silicon Valley

02:54 The Importance of Balancing Tech and Humanities

04:33 Tom's Experience as a Founder and Angel Investor

06:21 Understanding the Role of an Angel Investor

09:36 Tom's Current Projects and Daily Life

12:54 The Toxic Relationship with Big Tech

16:14 The Impact of Big Tech Monopolies

25:18 The Need for Regulation and Antitrust Laws

30:34 Historical Perspective on Power Concentration

31:41 The Need for Pro-Innovation Legislation

32:20 The Unfairness of Tech Monopolies

33:33 Understanding Digital Surveillance

34:58 The Dangers of Data Weaponization

36:05 AI's Role in Personalization and Manipulation

42:21 The Importance of Privacy

50:36 The Future of Big Tech

55:28 Practical Steps to Reduce Data Footprint

57:20 Tech Companies' Double Standards

59:50 Closing Remarks

PRIVACY ENHANCING TOOLS:

- Privacy Badger - a browser extension that automatically learns to block invisible trackers. https://privacybadger.org/

- How to configure App Tracking Transparency in iOS and iPadOS https://appleinsider.com/articles/21/07/20/how-to-configure-app-tracking-transparency-in-ios-and-ipados

- DuckDuckGo — Privacy, simplified. https://duckduckgo.com/

- My Activity Google https://myactivity.google.com/

Tom's book: https://www.amazon.com/Containing-Big-Tech-Protect-Democracy/dp/1639080619

Connect with Tom: https://www.tomkemp.ai/ +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

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Let's get ready for the future!

Misha da Vinci is a futurologist, tech thinker, and founder of GRFTF. 

Connect with Misha: The GRFTF Newsletter (a free life-changing newsletter): https://mishadavinci.substack.com/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/mishadavinci

Website: https://www.mishadavinci.com/