Ep. 44: Mike Benz - The (Deep) State of Global Censorship

My guest today is Mike Benz, a free speech & censorship expert, the Executive Director of Foundation for Freedom Online, a nonprofit watchdog dedicated to protecting digital liberties and restoring the free and open Internet. Benz was in charge of the cyber portfolio for the US State Department during the Trump administration, where he served as the Deputy Assistant Secretary for International Communications and Information Technology. That role included formulating and negotiating US policy on Internet diplomacy issues as well as interfacing with private industry and civil society in the Big Tech space. Prior to that, Benz served as a White House speechwriter for President Trump and advised on technology policy.  In this conversation, we discuss censorship & free speech, U.S. foreign policy including Israel’s role. We dive into the censorship industrial complex, the mechanics behind censorship tactics, and the implications for free speech in the digital age. We also touch on the intersection of technology and free speech, particularly in relation to Bitcoin & Nostr, and end on a message of hope for a future of freedom and digital liberties. ► If you got value, please like, comment, share, follow and support my work. Thank you! -- SPONSORS -- ►► Get your TREZOR wallet & accessories, with a 5% discount, using my code at checkout (get my discount code from the episode - yep, you’ll have to watch it): https://affil.trezor.io/SHUn  ►► Donate to the Nostr Booth: ⁠https://geyser.fund/project/thenostrboothinitiative⁠ ►► Join me in any of these upcoming events:https://www.efrat.blog/p/upcoming-events  Oct. 2024 - Bitcoin Amsterdam (code EFRAT for 10% off) Oct. 2024 - Plan B Forum, Lugano (code EFRAT for 10% off) Nov. 2024 - Liberty in our lifetime, Prague (code Efrat76423 for 10% off) Nov. 2024 - Adopting Bitcoin, El Salvador (code EFRAT for 10% off) May 2025 - Bitcoin Vegas (prev. Nashville) (code EFRAT for 10% off) June 2025 - BTC Prague (code EFRAT for 10% off) -- LINKS -- Mike’s Twitter: https://x.com/MikeBenzCyber   Mike’s Foundation for Freedom Online: https://foundationforfreedomonline.com/  Efrat's Twitter: https://twitter.com/efenigson Efrat's channels: https://linktr.ee/efenigson Watch/listen on all platforms: https://linktr.ee/yourethevoice Support Efrat's work: ⁠https://www.buymeacoffee.com/efenigson⁠ Support Efrat with Bitcoin: https://geyser.fund/project/efenigson -- CHAPTERS – 00:00 Coming Up... 01:16 Intro & Background on Mike 03:31 True Purpose of the Middle East War 08:14 Self-Custody with Trezor (Ad Break) 08:44 Current US Administration Pushing for an Israeli Regime Change? 13:23 The Censorship Industrial Complex: Controlling the Flow of Information 15:47 Netanyahu, Soros, Gas & Poland 19:29 Oct. 7th - Speculations 23:55 Speaking To American Interests 28:50 Prolonging The Middle East War 32:44 "Whole of Society" Defining Censorship & Free Speech 36:25 Sticks & Carrots: The Relationship Between Big Government & Big Corporations 42:28 Whole of Society in Action 50:00 The Redefinition of Democracy: Consensus of Institutions vs. Individuals 55:57 Unveiling Authoritarian Structures & Fight for Freedom 1:00:53 Centralized vs. Decentralized Tech & Freedom of Speech 1:04:51 Nostr & Freedom Tech 1:08:26 Stablecoins Impact on USD, US Global Dominance & Bitcoin 1:16:38 Pro-Freedom vs. Pro-Decentralization (& Nostr & Jack Dorsey) 1:19:25 Mike's Talk at the Bitcoin 2024 Conference 1:23:58 Closing Message: We're Winning