Privacy Chats with Rachel and John

On Episode 27 of Privacy Chats with Rachel and John, we build upon our prior episode uncovering gift card scams - this time, focusing on how scammers trick people into purchasing and sending gift card details under false pretenses - such as fake IRS threats, tech support scams, or impersonation schemes - what they’re used for, why they’re effective, and most importantly, key prevention tips to help you and your family keep your wits about you in the new year!  ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ Resources that inspired our episode: Maryland Legislation ~ Consumer Protection - Retail Sales of Gift Cards (Gift Card Scams Prevention Act of 2024) https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Legislation/Details/hb0896?ys=2024RS [https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Legislation/Details/hb0896?ys=2024RS] https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2024RS/fnotes/bil_0006/hb0896.pdf [https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2024RS/fnotes/bil_0006/hb0896.pdf] Gift Card Exchange website https://www.cardcash.com/sell-gift-cards/ [https://www.cardcash.com/sell-gift-cards/] Reddit Thread about Scammers extracting money from gift cards https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/1ckyqu3/eli5_how_do_scammers_extract_money_from_the_gift/ [https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/1ckyqu3/eli5_how_do_scammers_extract_money_from_the_gift/] Jim Browning YouTube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h9Rk51WQC9A [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h9Rk51WQC9A] Money.com article about sites to sell gift cards https://money.usnews.com/money/personal-finance/spending/articles/sites-to-sell-gift-cards-online [https://money.usnews.com/money/personal-finance/spending/articles/sites-to-sell-gift-cards-online]

Gift cards are a fun way to spread holiday joy, removing the guesswork for the giver while ensuring the recipient gets exactly what they’re looking for…... .until you find that a scammer has interfered in the process!  On Episode 25 of Privacy Chats with Rachel and John, we break down the vulnerabilities and scams associated with gift cards, particularly those involving the theft or misuse of funds loaded onto gift cards, based on John’s own experiment evaluating the security of cards between different vendors.  Tune in to learn about the various security features (or lack thereof) on common gift cards, how scams often occur, and different prevention strategies to minimize risks for gift card givers and receivers.

People often wonder if their phone is listening to them when they see advertisements related to things that they recently discussed, but didn’t search on their phone.  Could this be true?  Is your phone listening to you? On Episode 24 of Privacy Chats with Rachel and John, we look at published findings of other people who have dived into this topic.

Artificial Intelligence continues to move the boundary of hypothetical technologies - such as brain reading devices - closer and closer to reality. How close we are to that boundary today, and where that boundary sits in terms of becoming a threat to privacy and civil liberties, remains a subject of debate. On Episode 23 of Privacy Chats, Rachel and John discuss the progress made in recent neurotechnology advancements as well as other affect-recognition technologies, including non-invasive video reconstruction using brain activity and brain fingerprinting (yes - you read that right!) What can, or should, we expect as far as effects on law enforcement and personalized advertising activities? Is it too early to tell? Tune in and join the conversation too find out! This episode was inspired and informed by the following publications: 19 May 2023 - Cinematic Mindscapes: High-quality Video Reconstruction from Brain Activity [https://www.cbc.ca/radio/asithappens/canada-neural-privacy-1.7346520]Brain fingerprinting: a comprehensive tutorial review of detection of concealed information with event-related brain potentials [https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3595430/] Daubert v. Merrell Dow Pharmaceuticals, Inc., 509 U.S. 579 (1993) [https://supreme.justia.com/cases/federal/us/509/579/]

What will a second Trump term mean for US Privacy and AI Policy? Former president Joe Biden set a record number of Executive Orders into motion related to Artificial Intelligence and National Security into motion during his term, but there’s still plenty of work to be done. FTC Chair Lina Khan pursued legal action against US technology companies in an unprecedented way during Biden’s term and pushed the boundaries of the FTC’s enforcement role in the process. And although containing the harmful impacts of AI remains a bipartisan goal, to what extent - considering the anticipated tradeoffs to innovation - is where the divide continues to exist.  How will the new administration impact the direction of Privacy, Security, and Artificial Intelligence policy, both on a domestic and international scale? On episode 22 of Privacy Chats with Rachel and John, Rachel talks about her 3 key predictions regarding how the Trump administration will likely respond to the activities set into motion under former President Joe Biden. …..…..…..….. …..…..…..….. This episode makes reference to the following Executive Orders instituted under former president Joe Biden:  * (EO 14110) Executive Order on the Safe, Secure, and Trustworthy Development and Use of Artificial Intelligence [https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/presidential-actions/2023/10/30/executive-order-on-the-safe-secure-and-trustworthy-development-and-use-of-artificial-intelligence/] * (EO 13985) Executive Order on Advancing Racial Equity and Support for Underserved Communities Through the Federal Government [https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/presidential-actions/2023/10/30/executive-order-on-the-safe-secure-and-trustworthy-development-and-use-of-artificial-intelligence/] * (EO 14117) Executive Order on Preventing Access to Americans’ Bulk Sensitive Personal Data and United States Government-Related Data by Countries of Concern [https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/presidential-actions/2024/02/28/executive-order-on-preventing-access-to-americans-bulk-sensitive-personal-data-and-united-states-government-related-data-by-countries-of-concern/] This episode was written inspired by research involving the following publications:  * NextGov.com: Trump promised to repeal Biden’s AI executive order — here’s what to expect next [https://www.nextgov.com/artificial-intelligence/2024/11/trump-promised-repeal-bidens-ai-executive-order-heres-what-expect-next/400934/?oref=ng-homepage-river] * IAPP News: A view from DC: What does a second Trump presidency mean for privacy, AI governance? [https://iapp.org/news/a/a-view-from-dc-what-does-a-second-trump-presidency-mean-for-privacy-ai-governance-] * IAPP News: A view from DC: The beginning of the end of the free flow of data [https://iapp.org/news/a/a-view-from-dc-the-beginning-of-the-end-of-the-free-flow-of-data] * Oversight.house.gov: Oversight Committee Releases Staff Report Finding FTC Chair Khan Abused Authority to Advance the Biden-Harris Administration’s Agenda [https://oversight.house.gov/release/oversight-committee-releases-staff-report-finding-ftc-chair-khan-abused-authority-to-advance-the-biden-harris-administrations-agenda/] * Security Infowatch: What can the security industry expect from a second Trump term?  [https://www.securityinfowatch.com/industry-news/article/55241547/what-can-the-security-industry-expect-from-a-second-trump-term] * Tech Press: Where US Tech Policy May Be Headed During a Second Trump Term [https://www.techpolicy.press/where-us-tech-policy-may-be-headed-during-a-second-trump-term/] * CNN.com: 2016 Presidential Campaign Hacking Fast Facts [https://www.cnn.com/2016/12/26/us/2016-presidential-campaign-hacking-fast-facts/index.html] * Wikipedia: Donald Trump Tiktok Controversy Wikipedia  [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Donald_Trump%E2%80%93TikTok_controversy#:~:text=In%20March%202024%2C%20Trump%20reversed,%22enemy%20of%20the%20people.%22] * Reason.com: https://reason.com/2024/04/24/another-illegal-power-grab-from-the-ftc/ [https://reason.com/2024/04/24/another-illegal-power-grab-from-the-ftc/] * White House.gov: Fact Sheet: Key AI Accomplishments in the Year Since the Biden-⁠Harris Administration’s Landmark Executive Order [https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2024/10/30/fact-sheet-key-ai-accomplishments-in-the-year-since-the-biden-harris-administrations-landmark-executive-order/]