The New Homesteaders

Are we losing the ability to think deeply as AI becomes more involved in everyday life? TNH news

The second installment of TNH news. Are we losing the ability to think deeply as AI becomes more involved in everyday life? In this episode, Akseli and Liam discuss the EU AI Act, social scoring, surveillance, biometric data, brain-mapping technology, deepfakes, AI-generated content, and the growing dependence on proprietary platforms. They also look at what this means for education, privacy, copyright, creativity, and digital sovereignty. Does regulation offer meaningful protection, or are governments and large technology companies still setting the terms? Topics include: The EU AI Act and its ban on social scoring Big Tech, fines, and biometric data breaches Brain-mapping AI and the limits of mental privacy Data centres in space AI-generated websites and synthetic content Deepfakes and the decline of visual evidence AI in education Copyright, proprietary data, and knowledge work Whether convenience is weakening independent thought Join the homestead rebellion: X/Twitter: @NewHomesteaders Website: https://the-new-homesteaders.com/ [https://the-new-homesteaders.com/] Akseli and Liam read every comment, so let us know: are you optimistic about AI, or do you think we are heading towards a more controlled and less independent society? ⏰ Timestamps 00:00 – Introduction and AI regulation 02:15 – The EU AI Act and social scoring 05:10 – Big Tech fines and biometric data breaches 09:00 – Brain-mapping AI and mental privacy 15:20 – Data centres on the Moon 20:05 – AI-generated websites and synthetic content 27:30 – Deepfakes and the end of visual trust 36:50 – AI in education 43:25 – Copyright, proprietary data, and knowledge work 50:00 – Creativity and independent thought 57:30 – Digital independence in an AI-driven society 60:45 – Closing thoughts

Se datadiili, josta vanhemmille ei koskaan kerrottu (Finnish episode)

**The New Homesteaders** – First Finnish episode! How much data are Finnish schools actually giving to Google and Microsoft? In this eye-opening discussion, Akseli and teacher Vesku break down the reality of school-issued devices, privacy rights, and long-term consequences for children. **Main Topics:** - School Chromebooks & Microsoft laptops – who really owns the data? - Why parents and children cannot consent to Google/Microsoft terms - GDPR reality: The municipality is the data controller, not you - Google’s “Selfish Ledger” vision and behavioral manipulation - What data is collected daily from students? - Long-term risks of giving Big Tech an entire generation’s data - Alternatives like Nextcloud and what other countries (Netherlands, France) are doing A must-watch for every Finnish parent, teacher, and privacy-conscious person. **Timestamps:** 00:10 - Intro & Guest Vesku 01:38 - School devices in Finland (Chromebooks vs Windows) 02:50 - What students actually do on school laptops 07:18 - Data protection & terms of service 09:16 - How much data is really collected? 15:45 - Legal breakdown: Why parents can’t refuse 22:24 - Google’s Selfish Ledger explained 29:04 - Long-term risks for children’s future 37:10 - Possible solutions and alternatives Listen in English too – previous episodes available on the channel. #Yksityisyys #Koulu #DataProtection #Google #Microsoft #Vanhemmat #GDPR #Suomi #Privacy #DigiHelsinki

Wi-Fi Bulbs, Security Risks & Network Isolation – Smart Home Tips

Smart homes are supposed to make life easier… but most people screw it up right from the start. In this episode, Liam and Akseli break down the most common (and expensive) mistakes people make when building their first private smart home — including Liam’s own painful beginner errors. Topics Covered: • Why Wi-Fi bulbs are usually a terrible idea • Zigbee vs Wi-Fi vs Matter – which one should you actually use? • The massive security risks of cheap AliExpress devices • Why you must isolate your smart home network • Cloud dependency, firmware updates & devices becoming paperweights • Starting too big, buying the wrong protocols, and more If you're planning to set up Home Assistant or just getting into smart homes, this episode will save you time, money, and headaches. Timestamps: 00:00 - Intro & Liam’s Confession 00:48 - Worst first mistake most people make 02:08 - Kalex/Tuya bulbs & early automations 03:45 - Dangers of cheap AliExpress smart devices 06:20 - Zigbee vs Wi-Fi vs Z-Wave vs Matter 09:55 - Why you need a separate smart home network 13:49 - Home Assistant doesn’t automatically mean private 15:46 - Biggest security mistake in smart homes 21:42 - Smart order to buy devices 23:28 - Golden rule: If it needs internet, don’t buy it 31:31 - Should you remove all physical light switches? Like & subscribe if you're building your own digital homestead! #SmartHome #HomeAssistant #Zigbee #Privacy #SelfHosting #HomeAutomation #IoT Join the homestead rebellion: Twitter: @NewHomesteaders Website: https://the-new-homesteaders.com/ [https://the-new-homesteaders.com/] Drop your most unfiltered thoughts below — Akseli & Liam read every comment.

Stop Farming for Zuckerberg: Escape Digital Sharecropping

Is your digital life just another crop for Zuckerberg's profit farm? Akseli and Liam slice into the age-old analogy of sharecropping to reveal how social media turns us into unpaid laborers feeding AI giants—without even noticing. Spoiler: Facebook isn’t just making you a product, it’s farming your data, family photos, and attention, all while Zuckerberg’s pulling the profit like a royal landowner of the digital age. So, what's the real cost for you and your digital sovereignty? In this episode, we break down the surprisingly old analogy of digital sharecropping from 2006, connecting the dots between traditional landlord-tenant relationships and modern platforms—think Facebook, TikTok, and Google. You'll discover why your social media posts are a form of labor that elevates CEOs, not users, and how open-source tools like Mastodon and Nextcloud could turn the tables in this digital land grab. We explore the moral implications of choosing open source over proprietary ecosystems, and why digital homesteading might be the true way to reclaim personal sovereignty. Tired of the AI feeding frenzy and feeling like a farmhand in your own virtual life? Join us as we discuss how decentralization, federation, and a little DIY tech savvy can make you the landlord. ⏰ Timestamps ⏰ 00:00 - Welcome & wild opener: are you a digital sharecropper? 02:17 - The sharecropping analogy: from 2006 to today 04:27 - Digital homesteading ideas: Mastodon, Nextcloud, and federated clouds 07:44 - Open source vs proprietary ecosystems: moral or practical choice? 10:18 - Simple steps to stop being a digital sharecropper this week 13:10 - The future of fair and decentralized social media models 15:11 - Why community matters and the death of local trust 18:41 - How AI, regulation, and law might shape the sandbox of tomorrow 22:34 - Can social media ever be fair? Breaking down the broken model 27:58 - Hope for engineering solutions: open source projects and grassroots innovation 33:19 - Final thoughts: if most people don’t care, does it matter? 36:36 - The importance of collective action and how to shrug off learned helplessness Join the homestead rebellion: Twitter: @NewHomesteaders Website: https://the-new-homesteaders.com/ [https://the-new-homesteaders.com/] Drop your most unfiltered thoughts below — Akseli & Liam read every comment.

You Should Trust NO ONE With Your Data in 2026 | Zero Knowledge Explained

Why You Should Trust NO ONE With Your Data in 2026 | Zero Knowledge & Zero Trust Explained In this episode of The New Homesteaders, Liam and Akseli break down Zero-Knowledge architecture — the only real way to protect your privacy when big tech and governments are harvesting everything. From WhatsApp backups and Google reading your old emails to mandatory facial recognition cameras in new cars, this episode shows why “Trust us” is never enough. ### Key Topics: • What Zero-Knowledge really means • Dangers of cloud services, metadata & AI training on your data • Open source vs proprietary software • How to actually secure your files on Google Drive • Why your next car will spy on you ### Timestamps: 00:07 - Welcome & Episode Overview 00:33 - Introducing Zero Knowledge 01:00 - Why OneDrive, Gmail & WhatsApp are NOT private 01:48 - The Bull & Fish Market Analogy 04:24 - Why we need to escape multinational dependency 05:20 - OSINT, metadata & your exposed private life 07:01 - The problem with “Trust Us” policies 09:04 - Open Source vs Proprietary Software 10:12 - WhatsApp cloud backup disaster & fake E2EE claims 13:40 - Google Gemini reading ALL your emails (Class Action Lawsuit) 17:10 - How to use Google Drive with Zero Knowledge (Cryptomator + VeraCrypt) 19:29 - BitLocker & Microsoft holding your encryption keys 23:05 - 2026 mandatory car cameras & facial recognition 30:03 - This affects your whole family 32:20 - Final thoughts ### Resources & Important Links: • Google Gemini Email Scanning Lawsuit (Thele v. Google, Nov 2025): https://www.classaction.org/media/thele-v-google-complaint_2.pdf [https://www.classaction.org/media/thele-v-google-complaint_2.pdf] • Microsoft Services Agreement (OneDrive, Outlook, BitLocker): https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/servicesagreement [https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/servicesagreement] • EU Mandatory Car Interior Cameras & Surveillance Law (Regulation 2019/2144): https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX:32019R2144 [https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX:32019R2144] ### Recommended Privacy Tools: - Signal (private messaging with disappearing messages) - Cryptomator (encrypt files before uploading to any cloud) - VeraCrypt (open-source full disk encryption) If you’re tired of being the product, start taking back control today. 👍 Like | Subscribe | Turn on notifications Also available on Spotify & Apple Podcasts. #ZeroKnowledge #Privacy #DataSecurity #ZeroTrust #Encryption #OpenSource #CyberSecurity #DigitalPrivacy #Cryptomator #VeraCrypt #Signal #BigTech #Homesteading New episodes weekly — practical talk for reclaiming independence in the modern world.