StarZero All shows Try the podcast clipper →

Oct 12, 2021 · 36m · we-live-to-build

30 Years of Surveillance Footage Later: Privacy Is Already Dead

Barry Levine · 25m spoken Sean Weisbrot · 9m spoken
0:00 / 0:00
▶ Watch on YouTube →

gold bands on the timeline = statements, start to end. Hover to read, click to jump. CC turns on captions

In this episode of the 'We Live to Build' podcast, host Sean Weisbrot interviews Sperry West CEO Barry Levine to discuss his thirty years in covert surveillance manufacturing, memorable investigations into internal workplace crime, and why personal privacy is effectively dead in the modern era.

How this conversation actually went

Every chapter scored 0–10 on four independent dynamics. Hover any point for the reasoning behind the score. Sean holds 28.2% of the talking time here. How this is scored →

Sean as informed peer 3.6 Guest teaching 3.4 Guest disagreement 0.9 Sean pushing back 1.3
05100:0010:0020:0030:001:41–6:56 · Sean as informed peer 1/10 Barry Levine's Career Origins and the Evolution of CCTV Sean asks an open-ended starter question, allowing Barry to deliver an extensive monologue covering the history of CCTV, sequential switchers, and covert surveillance kits.6:59–10:12 · Sean as informed peer 2/10 Securing GSA Schedules and Pitching Government Agencies Barry details the complex process of securing GSA schedules and navigating government conferences where technical personnel often replicated vendor technology.10:14–14:04 · Sean as informed peer 4/10 Idea Piracy in Business and Contractor Disagreements Sean shares an analogy regarding tech giants copying ideas and discusses contractor agreements, while Barry illustrates idea theft with an IT contractor incident.14:04–16:05 · Sean as informed peer 5/10 Cybersecurity Threats, Employee Offboarding, and Foreign Banking Attacks Sean demonstrates domain knowledge regarding offboarding security procedures and SaaS permission revoking, leading Barry to share an anecdote about a German banking cyberattack.16:06–22:35 · Sean as informed peer 3/10 Local Hardware Storage Versus Cloud Services and Distribution Channels Sean questions Barry's decision not to offer cloud hosting services, prompting Barry to clarify channel conflict risks with distributors and explain his direct marketing techniques.22:35–27:29 · Sean as informed peer 4/10 Internal Workplace Theft, Embezzlement, and Staged Fraud Schemes Sean recounts an embezzlement incident at his father's dental practice, and Barry reciprocates with corporate theft investigations involving rogue employees and staged insurance fraud.27:31–32:56 · Sean as informed peer 6/10 Remote Workforce Management and the Erosion of Personal Privacy Sean articulates how remote software teams manage accountability without intrusive monitoring software, and challenges Barry on commercial listening devices like Amazon Alexa.1:41–6:56 · Guest teaching 3/10 Barry Levine's Career Origins and the Evolution of CCTV Sean asks an open-ended starter question, allowing Barry to deliver an extensive monologue covering the history of CCTV, sequential switchers, and covert surveillance kits.6:59–10:12 · Guest teaching 5/10 Securing GSA Schedules and Pitching Government Agencies Barry details the complex process of securing GSA schedules and navigating government conferences where technical personnel often replicated vendor technology.10:14–14:04 · Guest teaching 2/10 Idea Piracy in Business and Contractor Disagreements Sean shares an analogy regarding tech giants copying ideas and discusses contractor agreements, while Barry illustrates idea theft with an IT contractor incident.14:04–16:05 · Guest teaching 3/10 Cybersecurity Threats, Employee Offboarding, and Foreign Banking Attacks Sean demonstrates domain knowledge regarding offboarding security procedures and SaaS permission revoking, leading Barry to share an anecdote about a German banking cyberattack.16:06–22:35 · Guest teaching 5/10 Local Hardware Storage Versus Cloud Services and Distribution Channels Sean questions Barry's decision not to offer cloud hosting services, prompting Barry to clarify channel conflict risks with distributors and explain his direct marketing techniques.22:35–27:29 · Guest teaching 2/10 Internal Workplace Theft, Embezzlement, and Staged Fraud Schemes Sean recounts an embezzlement incident at his father's dental practice, and Barry reciprocates with corporate theft investigations involving rogue employees and staged insurance fraud.27:31–32:56 · Guest teaching 4/10 Remote Workforce Management and the Erosion of Personal Privacy Sean articulates how remote software teams manage accountability without intrusive monitoring software, and challenges Barry on commercial listening devices like Amazon Alexa.1:41–6:56 · Guest disagreement 0/10 Barry Levine's Career Origins and the Evolution of CCTV Sean asks an open-ended starter question, allowing Barry to deliver an extensive monologue covering the history of CCTV, sequential switchers, and covert surveillance kits.6:59–10:12 · Guest disagreement 1/10 Securing GSA Schedules and Pitching Government Agencies Barry details the complex process of securing GSA schedules and navigating government conferences where technical personnel often replicated vendor technology.10:14–14:04 · Guest disagreement 1/10 Idea Piracy in Business and Contractor Disagreements Sean shares an analogy regarding tech giants copying ideas and discusses contractor agreements, while Barry illustrates idea theft with an IT contractor incident.14:04–16:05 · Guest disagreement 0/10 Cybersecurity Threats, Employee Offboarding, and Foreign Banking Attacks Sean demonstrates domain knowledge regarding offboarding security procedures and SaaS permission revoking, leading Barry to share an anecdote about a German banking cyberattack.16:06–22:35 · Guest disagreement 1/10 Local Hardware Storage Versus Cloud Services and Distribution Channels Sean questions Barry's decision not to offer cloud hosting services, prompting Barry to clarify channel conflict risks with distributors and explain his direct marketing techniques.22:35–27:29 · Guest disagreement 1/10 Internal Workplace Theft, Embezzlement, and Staged Fraud Schemes Sean recounts an embezzlement incident at his father's dental practice, and Barry reciprocates with corporate theft investigations involving rogue employees and staged insurance fraud.27:31–32:56 · Guest disagreement 2/10 Remote Workforce Management and the Erosion of Personal Privacy Sean articulates how remote software teams manage accountability without intrusive monitoring software, and challenges Barry on commercial listening devices like Amazon Alexa.1:41–6:56 · Sean pushing back 0/10 Barry Levine's Career Origins and the Evolution of CCTV Sean asks an open-ended starter question, allowing Barry to deliver an extensive monologue covering the history of CCTV, sequential switchers, and covert surveillance kits.6:59–10:12 · Sean pushing back 0/10 Securing GSA Schedules and Pitching Government Agencies Barry details the complex process of securing GSA schedules and navigating government conferences where technical personnel often replicated vendor technology.10:14–14:04 · Sean pushing back 1/10 Idea Piracy in Business and Contractor Disagreements Sean shares an analogy regarding tech giants copying ideas and discusses contractor agreements, while Barry illustrates idea theft with an IT contractor incident.14:04–16:05 · Sean pushing back 1/10 Cybersecurity Threats, Employee Offboarding, and Foreign Banking Attacks Sean demonstrates domain knowledge regarding offboarding security procedures and SaaS permission revoking, leading Barry to share an anecdote about a German banking cyberattack.16:06–22:35 · Sean pushing back 2/10 Local Hardware Storage Versus Cloud Services and Distribution Channels Sean questions Barry's decision not to offer cloud hosting services, prompting Barry to clarify channel conflict risks with distributors and explain his direct marketing techniques.22:35–27:29 · Sean pushing back 1/10 Internal Workplace Theft, Embezzlement, and Staged Fraud Schemes Sean recounts an embezzlement incident at his father's dental practice, and Barry reciprocates with corporate theft investigations involving rogue employees and staged insurance fraud.27:31–32:56 · Sean pushing back 4/10 Remote Workforce Management and the Erosion of Personal Privacy Sean articulates how remote software teams manage accountability without intrusive monitoring software, and challenges Barry on commercial listening devices like Amazon Alexa.

speaking balance: gold is Sean, purple is the guest (3 minute bins)

0:00 · Sean 60.6% · guest 39.4%0:00 · Sean 60.6% · guest 39.4%3:00 · Sean 0% · guest 100%3:00 · Sean 0% · guest 100%6:00 · Sean 9.1% · guest 90.9%6:00 · Sean 9.1% · guest 90.9%9:00 · Sean 9.3% · guest 90.7%9:00 · Sean 9.3% · guest 90.7%12:00 · Sean 41% · guest 59%12:00 · Sean 41% · guest 59%15:00 · Sean 20.6% · guest 79.4%15:00 · Sean 20.6% · guest 79.4%18:00 · Sean 12.2% · guest 87.8%18:00 · Sean 12.2% · guest 87.8%21:00 · Sean 44.8% · guest 55.2%21:00 · Sean 44.8% · guest 55.2%24:00 · Sean 10.9% · guest 89.1%24:00 · Sean 10.9% · guest 89.1%27:00 · Sean 38.5% · guest 61.5%27:00 · Sean 38.5% · guest 61.5%30:00 · Sean 42.4% · guest 57.6%30:00 · Sean 42.4% · guest 57.6%33:00 · Sean 37.3% · guest 62.7%33:00 · Sean 37.3% · guest 62.7%36:00 · Sean 88.3% · guest 11.7%36:00 · Sean 88.3% · guest 11.7%
Sharpest disagreement ▶ 33:30 Dismissal of hidden smart device cameras

Barry rejects the suggestion that major tech corporations would ever install secret cameras in home appliances due to catastrophic business risk.

 Hardest push from Sean ▶ 33:40 Host challenges corporate privacy claims

Sean forcefully pushes back against Barry's faith in corporate compliance by citing documented cases where Amazon Alexa devices recorded users without active consent.

 Biggest teaching moment ▶ 7:12 Educating on government GSA hurdles

Barry schools Sean on how getting approved on the federal GSA schedule does not create automatic sales without direct departmental solicitation.

 Sean holds their own ▶ 30:08 Sean outlines sprint-based remote productivity

Sean demonstrates deep managerial expertise by explaining how sprint planning and task progress replace intrusive employee tracking software.
the scores for every segment, with the reasoning behind each
ChapterTopicSean as informed peerGuest teachingGuest disagreementSean pushing backWhy
Barry Levine's Career Origins and the Evolution of CCTV 1300 Sean asks an open-ended starter question, allowing Barry to deliver an extensive monologue covering the history of CCTV, sequential switchers, and covert surveillance kits.
Securing GSA Schedules and Pitching Government Agencies 2510 Barry details the complex process of securing GSA schedules and navigating government conferences where technical personnel often replicated vendor technology.
Idea Piracy in Business and Contractor Disagreements 4211 Sean shares an analogy regarding tech giants copying ideas and discusses contractor agreements, while Barry illustrates idea theft with an IT contractor incident.
Cybersecurity Threats, Employee Offboarding, and Foreign Banking Attacks 5301 Sean demonstrates domain knowledge regarding offboarding security procedures and SaaS permission revoking, leading Barry to share an anecdote about a German banking cyberattack.
Local Hardware Storage Versus Cloud Services and Distribution Channels 3512 Sean questions Barry's decision not to offer cloud hosting services, prompting Barry to clarify channel conflict risks with distributors and explain his direct marketing techniques.
Internal Workplace Theft, Embezzlement, and Staged Fraud Schemes 4211 Sean recounts an embezzlement incident at his father's dental practice, and Barry reciprocates with corporate theft investigations involving rogue employees and staged insurance fraud.
Remote Workforce Management and the Erosion of Personal Privacy 6424 Sean articulates how remote software teams manage accountability without intrusive monitoring software, and challenges Barry on commercial listening devices like Amazon Alexa.

Statements from this episode (6)

Assertion Contradicted
Levine: My company provided all access control for the original World Trade Center
“So we were doing this for places like the World Trade Center, the old one, original one, obviously. We did all of their access control and some of their cameras.”
Barry Levine Oct 12, 2021 ▶ 4:40
Assertion Not checkable as stated
Levine: A rejected collaborator attempted to hack Sperry West's systems
“And I can tell you that I know that he tried to hack our computer systems at one time because of how upset he was that we weren't going to do it.”
Barry Levine Oct 12, 2021 ▶ 13:44
Disclosure
Surveillance CEO Barry Levine refuses cloud storage due to fundamental distrust
“Maybe being old fashioned about all of this, I don't trust the cloud. Therefore we do not store information on the cloud. And we do store it on our own backups.”
Barry Levine Oct 12, 2021 ▶ 16:24
Opinion
Surveillance veteran Barry Levine declares personal privacy is effectively dead
“Privacy, as far as I'm concerned, and I discussed this more with my family than others, but we believe privacy is kind of dead. There just isn't any more privacy”
Barry Levine Oct 12, 2021 ▶ 29:52
Disclosure
Sean Weisbrot avoids employee surveillance software and pays fixed monthly salaries
“I have chosen not to use that kind of software with my team. I also don't pay them hourly. We pay them salaries for the month.”
Sean Weisbrot Oct 12, 2021 ▶ 30:17
Disclosure
Levine: Sperry West covert cameras deploy primarily in commercial and government facilities
“Most of our products do end up being used in major facilities, whether it's companies or it's Government. But that's where most of our cameras end up. People envision that, oh yeah, they're in a house everywhere. I think there are very few covert cameras being…”
Barry Levine Oct 12, 2021 ▶ 32:21
Made with StarZero

Turn any episode into a week of clips.

This entire site, over 300 episodes transcribed, diarized, checked and made playable, runs on the StarZero media pipeline. Drop in your own episode and the podcast clipper finds the moments worth sharing, cuts them, captions them, and reframes them for every feed.

Try the podcast clipper Learn more