What the Hack? Episode 240: Who’s Watching the Watchers?
Feb 24, 2026
Charity Clark, Vermont Attorney General and former consumer lawyer focused on data and biometric protections. She breaks down digital surveillance from school apps to AI-powered romance scams. She explains state-level legal coordination, challenges of AI regulation, and why educating the public beats blanket bans.
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Episode notes
Privacy Is A Right And A Shield
- Data privacy is both a philosophical right and a practical protection against crime.
- Charity Clark frames privacy as a civil liberty and a defense against identity theft, scams, and extortion using collected data.
Poor Vetting Signals Bigger Privacy Risks
- Charity Clark says recent federal hires showed alarming disregard for basic vetting and privacy competence.
- She points to an unvetted hire with disqualifying public content as evidence the administration undervalues data scrutiny.
Crypto Mostly Fuels Speculation And Scams
- Clark characterizes current mainstream cryptocurrency use as speculating, scamming, and dark-web transactions.
- She argues meme coins and presidential involvement create clear ethical and corruption concerns rather than mainstream utility.