Talks / Ideas / Philosophy

Mundane Surveillance: Why Tesco Knows You Better Than MI5

Various venues across London

Tue 20 Oct · 19:00 · £20.25

90m · Talk

About this event

"Mundane Surveillance: Why Tesco Knows You Better Than MI5" with Jake Hurfut Summary: When we hear "surveillance," we think of secret agents and facial recognition. But the biggest spies in your life aren't intelligence agencies - they’re your local supermarket, your mobile network, and the digital billboard on your high street. Every time you buy a meal deal, tap your phone, or walk down the street, you’re generating data that gets packaged and sold to ad-tech brokers worldwide. It’s why the billboard you pass suddenly matches a pop-up on your screen, and why no two people experience the city the same way. Loyalty cards, phone masts and hidden beacons in billboards track who you are, where you go and what you buy to profile you better than any intelligence agency. This is "mundane surveillance": a look at how everyday companies track your every move, what they’re doing with your data, and why your grocer might just know your secrets better than GCHQ. Bio : Jake Hurfurt is an investigative journalist specialising in tech, civil liberties and surveillance. He is Head of Research & Investigations at the campaign group Big Brother Watch where his work has ranged from uncovering the government's abuse of military ‘counter disinformation’ units for political surveillance, to exposing police use of facial recognition searches for non-crime incidents and digging into advertising companies tracking everyone's phones to place billboards. Jake makes frequent appearances on radio and TV to talk about his work and wider surveillance & civil liberties issues, and his public speaking was one dubbed "in equal parts eloquent and fear-inducing". Venue: Blue's Kitchen Brixton, 40 Acre Ln, London SW2 5SP Event Running Time: (We recommend arriving at 6:30pm if you're eating, and 7pm if drinks only) Doors from 7pm Introduction: 7:25pm Lecture: 7:30pm Q&A: 8:10pm Finish: 8:30pm FAQs: What is Pints of Knowledge? Pints of Knowledge is a series of public talks where experts, researchers, and big thinkers share fascinating ideas all in the relaxed setting of a pub. We bring brilliant minds and curious audiences together over a pint, covering topics from science and politics to history, art, and beyond. What happens at Pints of Knowledge? At each Pints of Knowledge event, you’ll hear engaging talks (approx. 40 minutes) from expert speakers on fascinating topics — followed by an audience Q&A (approx. 20 minutes). The vibe is informal and social, set in a pub where you can grab a drink, meet interesting people, and enjoy big ideas in a relaxed setting. What if I don't drink alcohol ? No problem at all! Pints of Knowledge is all about the ideas and the community, not the drinks. You’re welcome to enjoy a soft drink, coffee, or whatever you prefer. The focus is on creating a relaxed, social atmosphere where everyone feels comfortable. Can I attend without a ticket? Tickets must be purchased online prior to the event. With our limited capacity at each venue we can't let people in without a ticket. There is occasionally the option to purchase a ticket on the door for our sold-out events, but we cannot guarantee this. Is there food available? Yes, there is usually the option to purchase food at our events - please see each venue's menu on their website. If you plan on eating at the venue, we recommend arriving as early as possible so the kitchen can get your order out before the talk starts. In the unlikely event the kitchen isn't open, there will typically be an option to order in food from elsewhere or bring your own food. Can I get my ticket refunded? We issue full ticket refunds up to 24 hours before the event. Any requests after will be at the discretion of the event organiser. Can I get my ticket exchanged? We issue full ticket exchanges if you have requested 48 hours before the event. Any requests after will be at the discretion of the event organiser . Is the event pet/baby friendly? Yes, we allow pets and babies to attend but reserve the right to request their removal if they are disruptive. Is the venue accessible? All of our venues are accessible, besides the following: The Old Queen's Head, The Landor, The Alma, and The Morpeth Arms.