Privacy Chats with Rachel and John

Hosted by Privacy Chats

TechnologyInterviews guests

Website RSS feed

Episodes

Latest episode

Jul 2025

Language

EN-US

About the show

Privacy Chats with Rachel and John is a podcast hosted by two enthusiastic Privacy Professionals interested in sharing what they learn about the ever-evolving world of Privacy with other professionals, novices, and everyone in between!

Listen to episodes

38 recent

July 9, 2025Episode 3627 min

Ep. 36 - Death, Taxes, and Your Data

We all know the saying: nothing is certain except death and taxes. But in today’s digital world, there’s a third certainty—data. In this episode of Privacy Chats with Rachel and John, we ask a big question: what happens to your digital footprint after you die?💬 From personal anecdotes to platform policies, we explore:⚰️ The default “limbo” state of accounts on Google, Facebook, and Apple🛠️ Practical tools like Google’s Inactive Account Manager & Apple’s Legacy Contacts📜 Estate planning laws (like RUFADAA) that give loved ones digital access📉 The risks of doing nothing—and letting outdated Terms of Service decide for you🔑 Why password managers might be your unsung digital heirsThis episode is a wake-up call (and a gentle nudge) to take action while you can. 👀 Tune in, reflect, and maybe even update your password vault.Approximate timestamps:00:00 🎙️ Intro – Death, Taxes... and Data? 01:45 🧠 What Happens to Our Data After We Die? 04:10 👵 A Generational Shift in Digital Footprints 06:30 🗃️ Google Drive & Inactive Account Manager 10:45 📨 Setting Up a Digital Legacy with Google 13:15 📘 Facebook Memorialization & Legacy Contacts 17:40 💔 A Real Example: Remembering a Friend on Facebook 20:30 ❓ Who Can Request Memorialization (and How)? 23:20 ⚖️ The Legal Void Around Post-Mortem Data 26:00 📜 Estate Planning, RUFADAA & Digital Assets 28:40 🛠️ Tools to Prep: Password Managers & Account Access 30:15 🍏 Apple’s Legacy Contacts – Pros & Limitations 33:00 🎶 Why Digital Purchases Don’t Really Belong to You 34:50 🧩 Recap – 4 Things to Do Before You Die (Digitally) 35:45 📝 Disclaimer & Next Episode Preview ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________While this video's content is based on our own thoughts and professional opinions, it was also made possible through the consultation of the following resources: Benjamin Franklin’s last great quote and the Constitution: https://constitutioncenter.org/blog/benjamin-franklins-last-great-quote-and-the-constitutionWhat Happens to Your Social Media Assets After You Die?: https://www.cccba.org/article/what-happens-to-your-social-media-assets-after-you-die/Facebook Legacy Contact Settings: https://www.facebook.com/settings?tab=memorializationReport a deceased person’s Facebook profile: https://www.facebook.com/settings?tab=memorialization

May 21, 2025Episode 3434 min

Ep. 34 - Rest of World

In this episode of Privacy Chats, we explore the growing global momentum behind comprehensive privacy regulations. With over 140 countries that have embraced laws inspired by the GDPR, Rachel and John zoom in on four frameworks in particular: GDPR (EU), LGPD (Brazil), APPI (Japan), and PIPA (South Korea) — highlighting how they align (and diverge) across key areas including:Scope and extraterritorial reachLawful bases for processingData subject rightsSensitive data definitionsDPO and DPIA requirementsBreach notification rulesEnforcement, sanctions, and international data transfersAlong the way, we analyze which countries are still lagging, where U.S. state laws fit into the picture, and how global organizations can navigate compliance across borders.________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________This episode was inspired by the following publications and resources:European Commission: GDPRhttps://commission.europa.eu/law/law-topic/data-protection/legal-framework-eu-data-protection_en?utm_source=chatgpt.comhttps://commission.europa.eu/law/law-topic/data-protection_enANPD Brazil: LGPDhttps://iapp.org/media/pdf/resource_center/Brazilian_General_Data_Protection_Law.pdfSouth Korea PIPC: PIPAhttps://www.pipc.go.kr/engJapan PPC: APPIhttps://www.japaneselawtranslation.go.jp/en/laws/view/2616/en

May 12, 2025Episode 2955 min

Ep. 33 - US Federal Acceleration of AI

Visual Artifacts Here! On Episode 33 of Privacy Chats, we revisit the United States’ evolving approach to AI governance, breaking down the latest policy mandates and exploring what they mean for responsible AI procurement, innovation, and public trust.And for a bit of perspective, we rewind the clock—comparing today’s AI frontier to past regulatory turning points, like the rise of the FDA.____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________This episode was informed by the following publications: - https://learn.g2.com/eu-ai-continent-action-plan - https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/01/removing-barriers-to-american-leadership-in-artificial-intelligence/ - https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2023/11/01/2023-24283/safe-secure-and-trustworthy-development-and-use-of-artificial-intelligence- https://www.theverge.com/2025/1/21/24348504/donald-trump-ai-safety-executive-order-rescind

April 30, 2025Episode 3255 min

Episode 32: Europe’s AI Optimism, the Fall of 23andMe, and ChatGPT’s New Memory Feature

This is a 3-part episode, so see below for the time-stamps discussing each topic:🇪🇺 Europe’s AI Ambitions: 00:00-25:00 The EU is stepping up with new announcements aimed at accelerating its AI strategy. But is it too late to compete with the US and China, and how might this shape their positioning as key global privacy regulators? We unpack the optimism, the funding, and the political will behind Europe's AI push.🧬 23andMe’s Identity Crisis: 25:00-40:50 Once a pioneer in consumer genomics, 23andMe is now navigating a very public privacy backlash and a Chapter 11 bankruptcy. We explore what went wrong—and what it signals about trust in data-driven health companies.🧠 Chat Memory Is Here: 40:50-55:44 OpenAI just launched a game-changing “memory” feature that remembers your preferences and builds continuity across chats. Helpful or a little too close for comfort? We dive into the privacy implications and use cases.________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________This episode was informed by the following publications: Europe’s AI Optimism: European Commission's latest AI initiatives look to drive competitiveness, broader integration: https://iapp.org/news/a/european-commission-s-latest-ai-initiatives-look-to-drive-competitiveness-broader-integrationShaping Europe’s leadership in artificial intelligence with the AI continent action plan: https://commission.europa.eu/topics/eu-competitiveness/ai-continent_enGDPR Simplification (LinkedIn post written by Stephan Geering): https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/gdpr-simplification-wish-list-stephan-geering-lnbge?utm_source=chatgpt.com23andMe: Congress has questions about 23andMe bankruptcy: https://techcrunch.com/2025/04/19/congress-has-questions-about-23andme-bankruptcy/?utm_source=chatgpt.comHow 23andMe's bankruptcy led to a run on the gene bank: https://www.npr.org/2025/04/25/1247139353/23andme-data-genome-bankruptcy-privacy-customer-data?utm_source=chatgpt.comWhat will happen to your 23andMe data — and can you delete it?: https://www.thetimes.com/us/news-today/article/what-happen-23andme-data-how-delete-tfjn5lfmx?utm_source=chatgpt.com®ion=globalChatGPT Memory Updates: ChatGPT can now remember and reference all your previous chats (Ars Technica): https://arstechnica.com/ai/2025/04/chatgpt-can-now-remember-and-reference-all-your-previous-chats/ Memory FAQ - OpenAI: https://help.openai.com/en/articles/8590148-memory-faq

April 17, 2025Episode 3136 min

Ep. 31 - A HIPAA Crash Course

HIPAA is a critical piece of the nuanced privacy puzzle in the US, but it’s often misunderstood — frequently reduced to just a medical form or mistaken for a blanket privacy law. On Episode 31 of Privacy Chats with Rachel and John, we bring you a HIPAA “crash course” - who it’s for, data in scope, and the consequences of non-compliance. And, just for fun, here are some silly HIPAA puns brought-to-you by ChatGPT: "HIPAA-chondriac" – Someone who constantly worries about privacy breaches."HIPAA-ly ever after" – What you hope for after a successful compliance audit."HIPAA-crite" – Someone who preaches privacy but doesn’t follow the rules."HIPAA-critical situation" – When someone is taking compliance a little too seriously.________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________This episode was directly informed by the US Department of Health and Human Services’ dedicated HIPAA page and by publications from the HIPAA Journal: https://www.hhs.gov/hipaa/for-professionals/privacy/index.htmlhttps://www.hipaajournal.com/new-hipaa-regulations

April 8, 2025Episode 2440 min

Ep. 30 - DeepSeek, Deregulation, and the 2025 US Privacy Landscape

On Episode 30 of Privacy Chats with Rachel and John, we take a look back at the eventful-ness of 2025 thus far, including DeepSeek’s shake-up of the global AI tech sector and continuous policy implications of the new US Presidential Administration peeling back previous AI safety mandates. Have AI acceleration priorities eclipsed AI safety priorities? If so, how long will it take for the greatest harm to be felt? Would greater enforcement pressure lead to more compliance?This episode was informed by the following sources: "Congressional Committee Kickstarts New Federal Privacy Law Dialogue""Why AI Lawyers Need a New Ethical Code" "DeepSeek’s Popular AI App Is Explicitly Sending US Data to China""DeepSeek rushes to launch new AI model as China goes all in" - Reuters"A view from DC: The price of privacy enforcement" "A view from DC: US House Republicans organize a privacy working group" "A view from DC: The first few days of Trump’s AI and privacy agenda" Sean O’Brien on Privacy Safe SocialJen Easterly On The Future of Cybersecurity and Her Agency's SurvivalForeign Hackers Are Using Google’s Gemini in Attacks on the US

April 1, 2025Episode 2939 min

Ep. 29: "Made In China"

In Episode 29 of Privacy Chats, Rachel and John cover the growing concerns over cybersecurity and privacy as it relates to Chinese-made consumer technology and how numerous countries have responded to such risks. They discuss the ever-evolving position of the U.S. with respect to TikTok and the downstream effects of our political landscape on U.S.-based Technology companies.________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________The episode was informed by the following resources & publications: Article about data being stolen through camera apps. What do our security agencies have to say about this? "China State-Sponsored Cyber Threat: Advisories" Advisory about Small Office / Home Offices Comments by Christopher Wray on the China Threat on 60 Minutes on January 12th Colonial Pipeline Attack CISA / FBI Joint Statement about PRC Targeting Telecommunications Recommendation to use encrypted telecommunications Article about China pursuing intellectual property U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission Chinese Spy Balloon U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission (2024 Report) Translation of the China Data Security Law Information about the 2 laws passed in 2021 Pillsbury Law Firm Article about the China Data Security Law NYOB Action against TikTok and others Article about TikTok bans around the worldNYT Article about TikTok and the current status TikTok Project Texas

February 26, 2025Episode 301 hr 14 min

Ep. 28: Decentralized Platforms: A New Era of Social Media?

Decentralized social media is gaining traction, but is it really the future of online discourse? Many users are begging for a paradigm shift in how social media platforms are governed today. This stems from growing concerns about mainstream, centralized platforms’ impact on privacy, democracy, mental health, and public discourse. In episode 28 of Privacy Chats, we investigate the rise of platforms like BlueSky, exploring how they work, their privacy implications, and whether they truly offer an alternative to centralized giants like X and Threads. We succinctly break down the AT Protocol, content moderation models, and the broader challenges of balancing user control with accessibility. Tune in for an insightful discussion and decide for yourself whether decentralized social media platforms will indeed represent a new paradigm shift for social media —or if it's destined to remain a trend. This episode was informed by the following sources: ⁠Bluesky Privacy Policy⁠ - last updated May 22, 2024AT Protocol Quickstart Guide, Glossary of TermsEmbedded.Substack.com: Seizing social media for the people- by Kate Lindsay on Januray 29, 2025DustyCloud.org: How decentralized is Bluesky really? - By Christine Lemmer-Webber on November 22, 2024TheWrap.com: Bluesky’s Momentum Rolls on, as Daily Users Surge 45% Since Thanksgiving by Sean Burch on December 20, 2024

February 12, 2025Episode 2339 min

Ep. 27 - Silence is Golden - New Tactics Behind Text Message Scams

Replying to those ridiculous “hi, how are you?” texts sound like innocent fun. But what if there’s something much more complex going on under the surface? On episode 27 of Privacy Chats with John and Rachel, we investigate the ever-growing popularity of text-based scams, from "warming" phone numbers to "pig butchering" schemes (wild name, huh?) AND “smishing” attempts disguised in everyday transactions, such as package tracking and road toll notices. We break down how scammers manipulate victims, the tactics used to gain trust, and how these scams have continued to evolve globally. With practical security tips and insights from authoritative sources, our goal is to equip listeners with the knowledge to keep their friends and families safe from these increasingly sophisticated digital threats.This episode was informed by the following publications & forums: FTC: How to Recognize and Report Spam Text MessagesUS Senate Federal Credit Union Security Corner Blog: Why Responding to “Hi, How Are You” Texts Can Be RiskyBuilding a Digital Defense against Oops Wrong Number TextsPig Butchering ScamsFTC: Why It’s Not Rude To Ignore Hi How Are You Text Messages From StrangersBitDefender: Wrong Number Text Scams and How To Protect Against Themr/Scams Reddit Discussion & Anecdotes on Random Hello Textsr/OutOfTheLoop Reddit Discussion: What’s going on with scammers “happening to text the wrong number”?

January 31, 2025Episode 2632 min

Ep. 26: G(r)ift Card Scams, Part 2

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=2024RShttps://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2024RS/fnotes/bil_0006/hb0896.pdfGift Card Exchange websitehttps://www.cardcash.com/sell-gift-cards/Reddit Thread about Scammers extracting money from gift cardshttps://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/1ckyqu3/eli5_how_do_scammers_extract_money_from_the_gift/Jim Browning YouTubehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h9Rk51WQC9AMoney.com article about sites to sell gift cardshttps://money.usnews.com/money/personal-finance/spending/articles/sites-to-sell-gift-cards-online