Listening In

In "Listening In," authors Toby Heys, David Jackson, and Marsha Courneya explore the fascinating history of audio surveillance, beginning with a covert listening device hidden in a plaque presented to US Ambassador W. Averell Harriman in 1945. Tracing the evolution of these technologies from post-WW2 to the present and future, the book reveals how state and commercial spyware have transformed privacy, allowing for mass audio surveillance through devices like smartphones and smart speakers. By examining the implications of these advancements on personal privacy and artificial intelligence, "Listening In" uncovers the pervasive cultural desire to record and analyze conversation in the name of security and connectivity.