Join journalist Byron Tau as he unveils a clandestine world of surveillance in a captivating narrative that intertwines the U.S. government, data brokers, tech giants, and advertisers in a quest for information. For the past five years, Tau has meticulously traced the evolution of surveillance from a chance encounter at a dinner party to a global mechanism of intelligence and monitoring, encompassing every digital device and facet of our lives.

While many are aware of modern surveillance, Tau reveals the staggering extent to which our phones, computers, homes, and even our cars are used to track our habits and behavior, with the data being sold to the highest bidder—often the U.S. government. Following the aftermath of 9/11, a vast surveillance network emerged, involving numerous anonymous companies and government agencies, with a singular objective: gather as much information as possible.

In this exclusive online talk, Tau sheds light on this secretive world, where defense contractors have marketing arms and marketing companies have defense contractor subsidiaries. Delve into this riveting story to uncover the hidden truths of surveillance and its impact on society, as Tau reveals insights that even the government may find enlightening.

Photo by Elliott O'Donovan.

March 11, 2024

Byron Tau
Reporter, Allbritton Journalism Institute and Means of Control: How the Hidden Alliance of Tech and Government Is Creating a New American Surveillance State; X@ByronTau

In Conversation with Rachael Myrow
Senior Editor, KQED’s Silicon Valley News Desk; X @rachaelmyrow


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