In Episode 242, Big Brother is in Target, we go down the rabbit hole of modern shopping and examine how Target and other retailers can track and trace shoppers, collect behavioral data, and build increasingly detailed profiles. We ask whether this technology is simply about marketing and convenience—or whether it represents another step toward a broader system of surveillance, social credit, and the ability to administer punitive consequences based on individual behavior.

We discuss Target, Walmart, Costco, retail therapy, cameras, Bluetooth-enabled technology, cart and device tracking, behavioral patterns, data collection, consumer profiles, Palantir, track-and-trace systems, convenience, privacy, and the increasingly digital nature of everyday life. We explore the idea that knowledge is power and question where ordinary m ...