The Electronic Frontier Foundation has worked for more than three decades to defend free speech online, fight illegal surveillance, advocate for users and innovators, and support freedom-enhancing technologies. EFF has fought to clear the way for open source software, encryption, security research, file sharing, and important new technologies.

In the latest episode of the Plutopia News Network podcast, Plutopians speak with Cindy Cohn, Executive Director of the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF), and Kevin Welch, President of EFF-Austin, about the history and evolving mission of EFF in defending digital rights. They discuss EFF’s ongoing battles against illegal surveillance, government overreach, and data misuse, especially under the second Trump administration. The conversation explores threats posed by the consolidation of government databases, the misuse of emerging technologies by law enforcement, and the need for decentralized, local activism. Emphasizing free speech, privacy, and the importance of empowering communities, the guests underscore both the urgency and the possibility of building a more just and secure digital future.

Cindy Cohn:

I take heart in the idea that we can change course if we want to. And we’re starting to see it. In some ways, the extreme moves of the second Trump administration have made a lot of people really recognize that they need to look for other ways. We hear from people all the time at EFF, just the list of people who want security trainings, who want to know how to use encryption, who want to know how to use technologies that stand with them and protect them has gone way, way up. And it’s not just human rights defenders and journalists who are always the canaries in the coal mine around these things. It’s a much wider range of people who want access to technologies that help protect them and that stand with them.

The legendary Sandy Stone returns to the Plutopia podcast this time as we discuss “Girl Island,” an upcoming partially-animated film based on her life and early visions of gender identity. We also discuss gender roles, trans rights, political oppression, and much more. We dive into everything from gender roles and trans rights to political power, patriarchy, and the weirdness of independent media. Sandy shares sharp insights on how power imbalances shape our ideas about sex and gender, reflects on the resilience of the trans community, and takes some well-aimed shots at the forces trying to erase progress. It’s a wild, thoughtful, and deeply honest conversation—part personal story, part cultural critique, and all Sandy.

Sandy Stone:

When we talk about what is gender and where does it come from — one of the places — not the only place, but one of the places gender comes from, it’s a very powerful place — is from power imbalances. That’s a very strong way that in our society desire gets constructed, whether you know it or not, sexual tension. Anyway, that’s one way that we construct sexual difference, is through power relationships. And ultimately when I say that, what I’m getting back to is patriarchy, obviously, to the fact that most power structures are controlled by men, and therefore men generally get to say what sex and gender are.

In this episode of the Plutopia News Network, Will Kreth—founder and CEO of HAND (Human and Digital) — joins Plutopians to discuss the future of identity, digital media, and the growing threat of deepfakes. Kreth, an early media pioneer and former first employee at Wired Magazine, outlines his mission to address the lack of source verification in a world where AI-generated fraud, such as unauthorized use of likeness and voice, is on the rise. He explains how HAND provides persistent, consent-based identity verification to help authenticate public figures and their AI-generated replicas. The conversation ranges from the early days of online media and metadata management to the implications of synthetic media, AI ethics, and cognitive overload in the post-internet age. Kreth emphasizes the need for robust identity frameworks, content provenance, and media literacy, drawing on examples from entertainment, technology, and cultural history to illustrate the urgent need for tools to preserve authenticity in a digitally manipulated world.

Will Kreth:

The threat of deepfakes is the number one thing that captures people’s attention. So, why does what I do matter – as a piece of the solution, of the provenance of the source verification, of the verifiable credentials of the individual? We provide a free to search and match, persistent, no-expiration-date unique [ID standard] to identify the [media] object – the person, and then a parent-child relationship to their replica — [created] with their consent. So, while there are many companies who’ve raised quite a lot of money to use AI to detect deepfakes, there are fewer companies engaged in the necessary work around source [provenance] verification — of what is real, and what is [created] with consent. In a world where fraudsters and scam artists and others have been appropriating, if not fully stealing, people’s name, image, and likeness (their NIL), their name, version, and [likeness], and sometimes their voice, which is even a more scary and dangerous area.

This time on the Plutopia podcast, climate scientist Michael Tobis, our man in the Great White North, joins us to talk about U.S.-Canadian relations. As Canadians go to the polls this week to elect new members of Parliament, the Trump administration’s ongoing attacks on Canadian tariffs and trade loom large. Michael describes how Trump’s aggressive rhetoric and trade policies have unified Canadians, strengthened national identity, and fueled a widespread desire to disengage economically from the U.S. He explains that while Canada has long relied on exporting resources like minerals, oil, and grain to the U.S., Trump’s actions have triggered a re-evaluation of these ties. Canadians are increasingly wary of American politics, committed to preserving their universal healthcare system, and prepared to resist any attempt at annexation. Tobis also highlights the deep cultural and economic interconnections between the two countries, the vulnerabilities created by globalization, and the stark contrasts in political stability, health care, and social safety nets. The conversation expands into broader concerns about trade, climate change, and the unpredictable impacts of populist movements, ultimately emphasizing that Canada’s relationship with the U.S. has been irrevocably altered.

Michael Tobis:

Nobody was kicking them out of Greenland. Nobody’s kicking them out of the north of Canada. Nobody was saying you guys can’t have our minerals. What we live on is shipping you guys our minerals. That’s why we’re a prosperous country. It’s because you guys want our minerals and we ship them. You want our grain and our oil and we ship them. What we’ve learned is that we’ve abandoned our manufacturing sector and a lot of the high-tech sector to America. And now that we’re saying, and I really can’t overemphasize how widespread this is. People do not want to do business with the United States.

Ray Thompson, a revenue and operations executive and managing partner at Buy Build Sell LLC, joined the Plutopia podcast while on a 23,000-mile road trip across the U.S. with his family. Taking a break from years of intense corporate work, he embraced remote working and launched a new business aimed at helping people become entrepreneurs through acquisitions. The journey—covering 49 states so far—offered him deep connections with people from all walks of life, reinforcing his belief that most Americans are decent and not as divided as portrayed by the media. Along the way, Ray reflected on personal milestones, explored the country’s natural beauty, engaged in meaningful civil discourse, and promoted a shift toward more sustainable, community-focused, and cooperative ways of living and working.

I met hundreds of people. I’ve spent two hours in a hardware store in Custer talking to a gentleman. I’ve spent times sitting at the bar eating a steak with someone I’d never met. Artists studios in Maine and you name it. I’ve met all kinds. We might have certain leanings, but I didn’t meet the radicalized segment that the media focuses on. It was not present. I found that really encouraging and inspiring, really. And that was a great part of the trip, just meeting that many people and seeing how close we really are. If we just take the time to spend more time together talking to each other as opposed to exchanging comments on Facebook or social media.

On this episode of the Plutopia podcast, singer-songwriter Axon Chamberlain (aka “The Herban Cowboy”) rejoins Plutopians to debut tracks from his newly released CD “Pub Fare,” recorded live in tap rooms and mixed with care. He reflects on how his creative process has shifted from striving for perfection to playing music for personal joy and healing—especially in a world marked by stress and political turmoil. Along with performances of politically charged and heartfelt originals like “For All” and “Free America,” Axon shares thoughts on activism, artistic authenticity, and the challenge of promoting his work in a noisy media landscape. The conversation touches on the state of democracy, judicial resistance, and artistic expression as a form of protest and comfort. The episode blends music, insight, and wit, spotlighting how art remains a powerful response to uncertainty and despair.

Axon:

I guess one of the things that we can talk about is a little bit what’s sort of changed with my process. I really become not working at it to get better, but playing at it to feel better. That’s working for me. If you’re playing music just for the joy that it gives you, proficiency just comes along for the ride. That’s been my approach to that, but it made me lazy with the shameless self-promotion stuff. That’s not going to happen on its own. You’ve really got to do some lifting on that. I’ve been out there flogging it like a Mormon with Amway.

British author and cartoonist Daryl Cunningham has created a graphical biography of Elon Musk, originally published in France under the title Elon Musk, Investigation into a New Master of the World, and now set for English release in September 2025 as Elon Musk, American Oligarch by Seven Stories Press. The book traces Musk’s evolution from his South African roots to his current controversial role as a powerful, far-right tech figure. Cunningham initially struggled to find an English-language publisher, attributing the resistance to fears of legal pushback and Musk’s political influence.

On this Plutopia News Network podcast, Cunningham discusses his approach to graphic nonfiction, comparing it to visual documentaries that simplify complex subjects without dumbing them down. While he acknowledges Musk’s work ethic and capacity for stress, Cunningham is deeply critical of the billionaire’s growing authoritarian tendencies and government dependence. He places Musk within a broader pattern of ultra-wealthy individuals using power and media to shape public perception and weaken democratic norms.

The conversation touches on science denial, billionaire influence, global authoritarian trends, and Cunningham’s upcoming book focused on the figures surrounding Donald Trump, including Steve Bannon and the Heritage Foundation. Throughout, Cunningham emphasizes the importance of defending truth, science, and democracy in an increasingly chaotic political environment.

I started off the book admiring some qualities about him. His drive, his ability, his flexibility, his thinking – he’s indefatiguable in his work – he’s got an incredible work ethic. Not just what I think, other people who’ve worked with him said that he can deal with levels of stress. That’s almost his superpower, really. But obviously the dark elements of his personality as he’s got richer and more powerful have come to the fore. And those things I really dislike. Tesla or SpaceX wouldn’t exist without intervention by the US taxpayer, the US government, at crucial points in their existence. It’s as simple as that, really. He’s the biggest welfare queen out there.

Paul Alan Levy, a public interest attorney at Public Citizen, specializes in defending internet-related free speech cases, particularly those involving individuals targeted by lawsuits for their online expression. While personally committed to protecting all forms of speech, Levy balances this ideal with the progressive values of his organization. He only takes cases when the speech is legally defensible and advancing the case could help set a broader legal precedent. Throughout his career, Levy has developed legal strategies, like the influential Dendrite test, to protect anonymous online speakers from frivolous or strategic lawsuits intended to silence them (SLAPP suits). He warns against threats to online speech, such as efforts to dismantle Section 230 protections, and emphasizes the need for libel insurance for content creators. Despite the growing challenges posed by powerful individuals, corporations, and shifting legal standards, Levy continues to advocate for robust protections of free expression in the digital age.

Paul Alan Levy:

I like the idea of protecting speech of all kinds, even if I potentially disagree with it, although I’m constrained by the fact that I work for Public Citizen, which is a progressive organization which isn’t always happy with my defending speech with which some of my colleagues at Public Citizen disagree. Beyond that, the question is whether the plaintiff has a tenable claim and whether – for all sorts of claims that may be made against speech, there are degrees of validity and degrees of protection, and I have to assess two things, really. First of all, is the speech legally defensible? And will defending the speech in a particular instance help advance the law by making it easier for other speakers? And really, both conditions have to be met for me to take a case.

Links:

In 1975, the United States Senate Select Committee to Study Governmental Operations with respect to intelligence activities began a formal inquiry into abuses committed by the CIA, NSA, FBI, and the IRS. The committee, known as the Church Committee, was chaired by Idaho Senator Frank Church and was part of a series of investigations into intelligence abuses in 1975, dubbed the Year of Intelligence.

The University of California in Berkeley held a seminar on intelligence agency abuses and political assassinations in April 1975. One of the highlights of the UC Berkeley seminar was a lecture by political scientist, author, and researcher Dr. Peter Dale Scott. I was fortunate to have been invited to record the lectures. In this episode of the Plutopia podcast, you’ll hear the full lecture by Dr. Scott. This recording from my archives is now 50 years old. You should listen to this as an example of what can happen when a government uses its intelligence agencies to mislead or harm its citizens. Some of the statements may be outdated or debunked, but Dr. Scott presents a vivid account of extreme misconduct by U.S. intelligence agencies. With that in mind, we present Dr. Peter Dale Scott’s lecture in its entirety on the Plutopia podcast as we take a look back at the assassination of President John F. Kennedy.

Pat Cadigan is a renowned science fiction and cyberpunk author known for works like Synners and Mindplayers. In 2023 she released a novelization of the classic Japanese Ultraman TV series, and in July she’ll release a novelization of the Ultraman UltraSeven series.

Pat joins the Plutopia podcast to discuss the evolution of the cyberpunk genre and its real-world implications. She reflects on her early influences, the tribal nature of cyberpunk’s rise, and how the genre has shifted from fiction to reality, particularly in the realms of corporate control, surveillance, and digital culture. The conversation covers the increasing relevance of cyberpunk themes, from AI and hacking to political and social upheaval. Cadigan also shares insights on the interplay between technology and human experience, drawing parallels between cyberpunk fiction and contemporary challenges such as privacy concerns, economic instability, and political manipulation. The discussion closes with thoughts on the future of cyberpunk and its continued impact on storytelling and society.

I didn’t really know very much about what was going on. I knew that I’d read Bill Gibson’s fiction and I loved it, and it was just the type of thing that piqued my interest and made me think good thoughts, creative thoughts. I forget whether it was Bruce Sterling or John Shirley who said that – I think John said this was a tribal thing, more than anything. And that we were people who were baby boomers – we’d grown up at more or less the same time. We came of age. We were the first generation with mass media and with travel that could be accomplished within a scarily short amount of time.