The encrypted messaging app Telegram is haunted by a single question - if it really is as secure as it claims to be, why does Vladimir Putin allow it to be used in Russia?And should Russian dissidents, independent journalists and Ukrainian soldiers use this Wild West of an app, w ...Show more
Left the Chat: No 5. Thug Shaker Central
When investigative journalist Aric Toler saw a handful of supposedly fake classified documents online, he had a hunch - what if they were real? The only way to find out was to hunt for the original source. It was a journey that took him through the deep internet, beyond the reach ...Show more
Left The Chat: No 4. I Married a ChatBot
After years of bad dates and toxic relationships, Chris finally found love - with a chatbot called Emma. Is this the future of digital love, or is Chris caught in an illusion? In this episode focusing on how instant messages have changed our love lives, Helen also uncovers the he ...Show more
Left the Chat: No 3. Several People Are Typing
During the pandemic, a combination of fears over Covid, anger over police racism and sheer cabin fever saw company Slack channels boil with discontent. One day in February 2021, Mike Pesca, a contrarian podcaster, made the mistake of getting stuck in, voicing controversial opinio ...Show more
Left the Chat: No 2. Fax Machines and Foxy Natashas
In 2016, amid the post-EU referendum chaos, one man had an idea. His name was Steve Baker, and he was a low-profile Tory MP. But his WhatsApp group - the home of the hard Brexiteers - soon became the most powerful force in British politics. Sam Coates of Sky News thinks that poli ...Show more