As Australia rolls out mandatory age verification and the U.S. Senate rushes a slate of new bills, everyone claims they're protecting children online. But a closer read reveals a different priority. This episode analyzes the fine print that protects business interests in both Australian and American legislation, exploring the rise of Digital IDs and asking the critical question: are these laws about safety, or about securing the data pipeline of the youth attention economy?

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iHeart Radio boasted savings upwards of 200 million by implementing AI into the companies work flow. 20 days later, iHeart CEO, Rob Pittman announced that AI would never infiltrate the airways.

Listen for more.

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Google Nest thermostats are getting "bricked." Spotify's Car Thing is a paperweight. AOL dial-up internet is officially shut down. On this episode of Data Darling, host L.E. Davis explores the epidemic of planned obsolescence and what the death of our tech really means.

We're digging into the controversial Right to Repair movement and why only four states have passed laws against companies like Apple and Google. It’s a story of corporate control, lost consumer trust, and the constant churn of the digital graveyard. From the data privacy scandals behind your Spotify playlist to the nostalgic sound of dial-up modem tones, we connect the dots between yesterday's web and today's AI-guided internet.

If you’ve ever been frustrated by a device that stopped working, wondered who really owns the things you buy, or just miss the simpler days of the internet, this episode is for you.

Read the transcript and more on: datadarling.substack.com

Keywords : Right to Repair, planned obsolescence, bricked tech, Google Nest, Spotify Car Thing, AOL dial-up, data privacy, tech news, Louis Rossmann, consumer rights, dead tech, podcast, L.E. Davis, Data Darling, web 1.0, tech policy, gadget, unsubscribe, Apple, Google, monopoly, Broligarchy

What happens when your DNA becomes a corporate asset? In this episode of Data Darling, host L.E. Davis dives into the rise and fall of 23andMe, the Silicon Valley darling that promised to unlock the secrets of our genes but left millions of users questioning the fate of their genetic data after its bankruptcy.

We explore:

• The legal and ethical implications of 23andMe’s collapse.

• A groundbreaking Texas custody battle over cryogenically stored embryos (Antoun v. Antoun).

• CoFertility’s controversial egg donation model and its parallels to organ donation.

• Why eHealth startups blur the lines between patient care and profit.

From genetic privacy to reproductive rights, this episode unpacks how our most personal information—our DNA—is being commodified in ways we never imagined. Are we patients, products, or something in between?

🎧 Listen now to learn:

• How to protect your genetic data in a post-23andMe world.

• The hidden risks of signing medical consent forms.

• What laws need to change to safeguard our biological and digital footprints.

👉 Don’t forget to subscribe, share, and leave a review! Let’s keep the conversation going about genetic privacy and human rights.

What if the cloud isn’t forever?

In this episode of Data Darling, host L.E. Davis unpacks the hidden infrastructure behind cloud storage — and the cultural shift from prized physical media to ephemeral digital memories. From $9 SD cards to billion-dollar server farms, we trace the evolution of storage, the rise of platforms like Dropbox and Google Drive, and how companies like Meta and Snapchat have become accidental museums of our lives.

Why are we paying monthly fees to store our own memories? Who actually owns your digital footprint? And what happens when archives vanish, but the algorithms still remember?

We’ll dig into:

• The fall of physical storage as a status symbol

• How cloud infrastructure shaped Web 2.0

• The secret cost of “free” storage on platforms like Facebook and Snapchat

• Why AWS and Google Cloud quietly run the internet

• The philosophical (and political) danger of losing access to your own data

👀 Plus: how to protect your digital life with practical tips for data sovereignty.

Whether you’re a cloud minimalist or a digital hoarder, this episode is a must-listen.

🧠 When in doubt…follow the data

This week on Data Darling, we’re diving into the high-stakes world of satellite communication and the growing influence of one of tech’s most polarizing figures: Elon Musk. When T-Mobile partnered with Starlink to bring satellite connectivity to all—even competitors’ customers—it seemed like a win for universal access. But behind the flashy Super Bowl ad lies a bigger question: Should one private entity have this much control over how we communicate? From Musk’s ambitions in satellites, social media, and telecom to the potential conflicts of interest lurking in the shadows, we explore whether this is a visionary leap forward or a dangerous consolidation of power. Tune in as we unpack the market share wars, the role of the Department of Defense, and what it means when innovation blurs the line between public service and private profit.

Host |⁠ L.E. Davis⁠

⁠datadarling.substack.com⁠

In this episode of Data Darling, we dive into the world of data privacy, surveillance, and digital rights. Discover the story of Edward Snowden, the NSA whistleblower who exposed the shocking extent of government surveillance in 2013. Learn how his revelations sparked a global conversation about data privacy and led to Max Schrems’ landmark case against Facebook under Europe’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).

We’ll break down key programs like PRISM and the Verizon Order, explore the concept of "data shuffling," and discuss why the US lacks a national data privacy law. Plus, we’ll connect the dots to modern-day controversies like TikTok’s data practices and what it means for your online privacy.

Whether you’re a tech enthusiast, a privacy advocate, or just curious about how your data is used, this episode will leave you informed, empowered, and ready to take control of your digital footprint. Tune in to Data Darling and follow the data!

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Host |⁠ L.E. Davis⁠

⁠datadarling.substack.com⁠