#TBOT Show 7: The Significance of Dorsey’s Bitchat, Worlds First eSIM Hack, Mexico’s Digital ID, New Show Source Insights

#TBOT Show 7: The Significance of Dorsey’s Bitchat, Worlds First eSIM Hack, Mexico’s Digital ID, New Show Source Insights

Author: The most important weekly tech news + solutions. July 21, 2025 Duration: 40:34

Took a week off and now I’m back. 😎 (with a new addition to the show?!) (also, big sorry for the show being 40 minutes)

Here’s the stories for the week:

Jack Dorsey’s Bitchat - The Real Story: The tech mogul Jack Dorsey released a censorship proof messaging app in late June - named Bitchat. It runs a bluetooth mesh network, end to end encryption, and rolling IDs and is picking up traction. I share my thoughts on the app, and concerns I have - but that’s not even the real story. I think Jack has a bigger message than just the app.

World’s First eSIM Hack: A security lab out of Poland just demonstrated a hack on one of the largest SIM providers for IoT devices. We’ll get techy in our understanding and ask the question, could this impact our phones?

Digital ID, Coming Soon To Mexico: The Mexican government has signed a new Biometric ID law, known as the CURP. How is this enforced and what does it mean for Mexican residents? Find out today.

Decentralized Video Conferencing: Recently I’ve been relying more on video conferences instead of calling people, especially while traveling. Good thing I’ve got the Jitsi app, I’ll show you my setup!

New Show, “Source Insights”: You follow #TBOT to stay informed on tech freedom. Now go deeper with a new weekly show “Source Insights”, where Hakeem shares his tools, lifestyle and productivity tips, entrepreneurial advice, wisdom from guides, and personal experiences.

Go deeper, join me as a Source Seeker. Unlock access with a paid subscription.

UNLOCK ACCESS

Thanks for watching the TBOT Show! This post is public so share it with your crew.

🪄 We aim for our show to be well-researched, well-informed and focused on the most impactful stories

PLUS each story comes with recommendations and there’s one cool tech trick or open-source solution every week.

We’ll be publishing full posts and clips of each of these stories next week!

Take Back Our Tech is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

Are you ready for a phone that respects you?

Enjoy private app stores, secure web browsing and communication, download videos to your phone, navigate with open-source maps, and so much more.

🔥 And best of all, there’s zero connections to big tech!



This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit tbot.substack.com/subscribe

Hakeem Anwar hosts The #TBOT Show, a weekly podcast dedicated to cutting through the noise of the tech world. Instead of just reporting headlines, this show focuses on the technology news that actually shapes your daily routine, privacy, and digital freedom, explaining why it matters in clear terms. Each episode is designed to be concise and actionable, wrapping up in under twenty minutes. You’ll hear informed analysis and straightforward recommendations on how to navigate the week’s developments. True to its mission, every installment also provides a practical takeaway: this might be a powerful open-source tool you can use, a privacy-enhancing skill to learn, or a sustainable tech solution to implement. It’s a blend of necessary context and usable insight, making it a resource for anyone who wants to understand and take back control of their tech life. Tune in for a focused, efficient update that prioritizes depth over duration, ensuring you stay informed without being overwhelmed. This podcast delivers exactly what its author promises: the most important weekly tech news paired with tangible solutions.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 80

The #TBOT Show with Hakeem Anwar
Podcast Episodes
Live Demo of All Above Phone Privacy Features [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 4:50
For those new to Above products, Above CEO Hakeem Anwar provides a live demo of the Above Phone for total transparency of the device. Notably, GrapheneOS allows for total restriction of the microphone and camera on the A…
How iPhone and Android Leak Data Every 5 Minutes [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 4:23
Hakeem Anwar from Above Phone & Take Back Our Tech and Nicole Sauce from Living Free in Tennesee speak on the sharp uptick in interest of Android phone adoption, particularly in developing countries. The reason? Hakeem p…
Privacy and Social Media: Can They Coexist? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:12
Hakeem Anwar from Above Phone & Take Back Our Tech and Nicole Sauce from Living Free in Tennesee have a nuanced discussion about alternative social media platforms in the post-Telegram era that can genuinely respect our…
Cooperation between the surveillance state and Tech Giants [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 33:51
Hakeem Anwar of Above Phone and Take Back Our Tech on the surveillance state, growing Big Tech encroachments, and the tech alternatives in hot demand as people look to hang on to basic privacy: https://realitycheck.radio…
The Weaponization of Surveillance Pricing [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 5:15
Following the rise of e-commerce in the 2000s, surveillance pricing has emerged as a potent weapon wielded by corporations and tech giants to maximize profits at the expense of consumer privacy. This invasive practice ha…
Your Social Security Number Leaked on the Dark Web [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 5:33
In a year already marked by massive cybersecurity incidents, another major data breach has come to light, affecting millions of Americans. National Public Data (NPD), a background check company owned by Jerico Pictures I…
Police Officers Use AI Chatbots To Write Crime Reports [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 3:56
The Oklahoma City Police Department is experimenting with an AI tool called Draft One, developed by Axon, to generate initial drafts of incident reports. This system utilizes the audio recorded by officers' body cameras…
VIDEO: Making Up Security Vulnerabilities for Clicks [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 5:52
Earlier this month, major tech outlets picked up on findings from iVerify, a security company who claimed they discovered a malicious Android package (‘Showcase.apk’) on millions of phones."The app vulnerability leaves m…
Telegram Plays Ball and Commits To Moderation [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 10:32
Last week on Telegram, chats were ablaze with rumors that direct messaging on the platform lost its encryption, after CEO Pavel Durov posted bail from a French jail and Telegram made a quiet update to their FAQ. Below yo…
The Technology Cold War: Russia & China Can’t Get Rid of Windows [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 11:02
The news cycle today indicates we’re moving through another Cold War, and despite the heightened tensions with Russia and China, neither country has shown significant progress in kicking Microsoft out of their countries.…