MacVoices #26116: Live! - Location Data For Sale, CoPilot's Unnecessary Features

This episode of MacVoices Live tackles two major tech and privacy concerns: the FBI's renewed purchase of Americans' location data and Microsoft's decision to remove 'unnecessary' CoPilot features from Windows. The hosts debate the ethical and legal implications of government access to commercially available location data, drawing parallels to the 'trash can' privacy precedent while arguing that location data—though collected through user consent—should not be treated as public information. They highlight the murky origins of such data, including potential involvement of data brokers and the dark web, and warn of the erosion of digital privacy. On the second topic, the hosts express relief and amusement at Microsoft's reversal on overloading Windows with AI features, criticizing the company's aggressive AI integration as invasive and poorly received. They also raise concerns about institutional adoption of CoPilot in education, noting the irony of approving a privacy-compromising AI system in environments where student data protection is paramount. The episode ends with a lively round of guest spotlights and community engagement.