257: Meta using tactics similar to those of digital criminals, AI models being developed for US national security, and Spaceballs 2 announced for 2027. with Guests James Riddle, and Nick Espinosa | Air Date: 6/17 - 6/23/2025

TechTime with Nathan Mumm

Privacy invasions, robot surveillance, and the surprising return of beloved cult classics dominate this week's tech landscape. Meta has been caught red-handed using tactics similar to digital criminals to secretly harvest web browsing data from Android devices through a backdoor approach that even Google wasn't aware of. The technique mirrors malicious software, planting itself on phones and bypassing security settings by default—a disturbing revelation that should prompt users to reconsider their browser choices.
Meanwhile, autonomous vehicles like Waymo have become rolling surveillance systems, their 360-degree cameras constantly recording everything and everyone they pass. Police departments in San Francisco and Phoenix are already issuing warrants for this footage, raising profound questions about our surveillance-saturated future. When you step into a robo-taxi, you're essentially signing away your privacy rights—just one more way we're trading convenience for constant monitoring.
On a lighter note, the 1987 cult classic Spaceballs is finally getting a sequel in 2027. Could it be called "The Schwartz Awakens"? It will reunite original cast members including Mel Brooks as Yogurt, Rick Moranis as Dark Helmet, and Bill Pullman as Lone Star, while introducing new characters including Bill Pullman's real-life son Lewis as "Starburst."
In other fascinating developments, Chinese researchers have achieved remarkable accuracy in reconstructing human faces from DNA alone, scientists have genetically engineered spiders to produce glowing red silk, and space station microbes are evolving new protective features against radiation. The technological landscape continues to advance at breathtaking speed—for better and sometimes worse.
Join us each week as we navigate these technological developments with expert analysis and our signature touch of whiskey appreciation. Whether you're concerned about privacy, excited about entertainment, or fascinated by scientific breakthroughs, Tech Time Radio brings you the insights that matter most, without the technical jargon.

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Chapters

1. Show Introduction and Headlines (00:00:00)

2. Meta's Privacy Violations on Android (00:12:42)

3. Spaceballs 2 Coming in 2027 (00:30:35)

4. Nick Espinosa on Cybersecurity Threats (00:42:27)