Every so often it’s helpful to get back to the basics when it comes to protecting individual privacy.

In light of the recent major data breach, potentially exposing the social security numbers of every American, we’re revisiting the core elements of the “privacy problem.”

In this episode of Privacy Files, we speak with entrepreneur and software developer Bert Hubert. Bert has a decorated 30-plus-year career working in a variety of industries including: cybersecurity, telecommunications, intelligence and security services, DNA research, and global navigation satellite systems.

Bert has even dabbled in a bit of hacking.

But after spending three decades working in technology, the one issue that’s always on the top of Bert’s mind is privacy…or the absence of it.

Bert discusses the prevalent surveillance that occurs online, especially by Google. In fact, Bert mentions that even Google employees complain about not being able to escape it.

We also talk about how we arrived at this point where engaging in the most basic activities leads to extensive data sharing. And most of the time it occurs without our knowledge.

Bert talks about who really runs the internet and why, despite promises to the contrary, we always seem to end up with a centralized model of data collection and management.

In the end, Bert cautions us not to focus on how widespread the data privacy problem has become, but to spend more time understanding the downstream consequences of our day-to-day actions.

To learn more about Bert Hubert:
https://berthub.eu/