#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
Dan Astin Gregory and Hakeem Anwar on Abusive Software Systems [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:19
Dan and Hakeem get into how technology is being used as a system of control and the danger of dealing with abusive software. What do you think? Is technology leading us towards an Orwellian future?Support our work:https:…
Dan Astin Gregory and Hakeem Anwar on Digital ID [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 3:39
Dan and Hakeem discuss the evolution of the Greater Reset conference and the technology sessions at the conference. Hakeem gets into the dangers of digital ID and how to opt out of this dystopian system by using the Abov…
Join us at the People's Reset, September 27-29 in Bath, UK! [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:13
Dan and Hakeem explain their student mindset when it comes to constantly learning new things and hopefully meeting new people at the coming People's Reset conference that is happening September 27-29 in Bath, UK!What do…
AI Surveillance & Pre-Crime: On the Sentient World Simulation [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 6:12
Since 2006 the U.S. Department of Defense and Homeland Security have been working on a decidedly Orwellian computer simulation called the Sentient World Simulation (SWS). This virtual world, a kind of digital twin, is de…
Telegram CEO's Arrest, Is Telegram Still Safe? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 15:06
Pavel Durov, the billionaire founder and CEO of Telegram Messenger, was arrested last Saturday by French authorities. Authorities were executing an arrest warrant issued by (OFMIN), Office Mineurs which deals with offens…
VIDEO: How Does Above Phone Protect Your Data? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 3:13
Hakeem Anwar and Dan Astin Gregory discuss what is different about the Above Phone, how it protects you and what types of protection it offers to safeguard your personal data from surveillance and invasive tracking. Supp…
Dan Astin Gregory & Hakeem Anwar on Big Tech vs Open Source [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 3:49
Dan Astin Gregory and Hakeem Anwar get into the primary differences of how to distinguish between proprietary and open source technology.Support our work:https://www.tiktok.com/@takebackourtechhttps://x.com/abovephonehtt…
Dan Astin Gregory & Hakeem Anwar on Surveillance Capitalism [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 3:10
Dan Astin Gregory and Hakeem Anwar discuss the dangers of big tech monopolies that have no transparency and the growing dystopian applications of surveillance capitalism. Support our work:https://www.tiktok.com/@takeback…
VIDEO TUTORIAL: How to Use Telegram Without a Phone Number [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:44
Ever wonder about how you can use Telegram anonymously without a phone number attached to your identity? Hakeem Anwar from Take Back Our Tech and Above Phone breaks it down for you!Follow us:https://www.tiktok.com/@takeb…