May 31, 2025

Hakeem Anwar: Your Phone is Eroding Your Privacy, Dignity, and Humanity - And How to Take Back Your Tech

1 hour 13 minutes

Send us a text

Ever feel like your devices are listening to you? In this eye-opening conversation with digital privacy expert Hakeem Anwar, we pull back the curtain on the massive surveillance infrastructure built into our everyday technology. From phones that listen when they're "off" to health wearables that track your biometric data and share it with government agencies, the digital landscape has become a minefield for personal privacy.

Hakeem, founder of Take Back Our Tech and privacy-focused company Above, breaks down why Apple's privacy policies aren't what they seem, how vulnerable our cellular networks have become, and why SIM swapping poses a serious risk to our digital security. The conversation goes beyond just identifying problems to offer practical solutions that anyone can implement, regardless of technical skill level.

We discuss breaking free from the "walled garden" of big tech and how to make a smooth transition to a genuinely private phone. I share my own experience switching from iPhone to a de-Googled Android device, including the initial friction points and how quickly they were resolved with proper support. Hakeem explains the advantages of open-source software, end-to-end encryption, and having multiple profiles on your phone to separate private and work environments.

Perhaps most importantly, Hakeem addresses the philosophical aspect of digital privacy – why it matters now more than ever as we face increasing surveillance from both government and corporate entities. With developments like digital IDs, facial recognition at airports, and massive data collection initiatives like Project Stargate, the window to establish our digital sovereignty may be closing.

Ready to take control of your digital life and protect your privacy? Listen now to discover practical steps toward digital freedom and learn why the effort is absolutely worth it in today's surveillance economy. Your future self will thank you for the peace of mind that comes with knowing your personal data truly belongs to you.

RESOURCES