The latest episode of the TNW Backstage podcast examines the conflicts surrounding privacy and Meta's business model.

      Are you familiar with the privacy paradox? It refers to the inconsistency between our assertions about valuing privacy and our unwillingness to safeguard it. This contradiction came to my mind while I was working on the first episode of our new podcast: TNW Backstage.

      The show takes listeners behind the scenes of the TNW Conference, focusing on the technology that influences our lives. Our inaugural episode features a notable guest: Ron de Jesus, who is recognized as the world's first Field Chief Privacy Officer.

      The discussion delves into the progression of privacy threats, with a key topic being Meta’s contentious “pay or consent” model. This approach presents users with a clear choice: consent to ad tracking or pay to experience an ad-free environment.

      The latest insights from the EU tech landscape, a story from our esteemed founder Boris, and some dubious AI-generated art are also covered. It's available for free every week in your inbox, so be sure to sign up!

      When we interviewed Ron last year, his strategy was facing criticism from regulators, civil society entities, and nonprofits. However, did this deter users? Not at all. Meta's user base has continued to expand, and the company is committed to enhancing this model. This situation is a clear demonstration of the privacy paradox in practice.

      In TNW Backstage, we explore these conflicts as well as other significant privacy matters, discussing how they are influencing this year’s TNW Conference agenda. To celebrate the launch of the podcast, we are offering a special discount on tickets for the event scheduled for June 19 and 20. Listen to TNW Backstage in the media player below to access this offer.

      Thank you for reading—and now for listening as well.