

The 404 Media Podcast
404 Media
Welcome to the podcast from 404 Media where Joseph, Sam, Emanuel, and Jason catch you up on the stories we published this week. 404 Media is a journalist-owned digital media company exploring the way technology is shaping–and is shaped by–our world. We bring you unparalleled access to hidden worlds both online and IRL through investigative reporting, smart blogging, and breaking news. At 404 Media you’ll read, and hear, stories you can’t find anywhere else written by journalists who are leading experts on their beats. Subscribe to 404 Media at 404media.co to gain access to an ad-free version of this podcast, as well as a bonus podcast episodes. Subscribers are the bedrock of building a sustainable business for our journalism.Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Episodes
Mentioned books

10 snips
Nov 15, 2023 • 37min
Venture Capitalists a16z Fund Nonconsensual Deepfake Porn
We recorded this immediately after publishing some breaking news: we discovered that venture capital firm Andreessen Horowitz (a16z) is funding Civitai, an AI marketplace we've repeatedly shown is an engine for nonconsensual AI porn. Just this week Emanuel reported Civitai had introduced a "bounty" system, that financially rewards people for making AI-models of specific targets. We talk about both stories in the first section of the podcast. Then after the break of this episode of "The Emanuel Maiberg Show," Emanuel talks about his deep investigation into working conditions in Labcorp, one of the biggest lab companies in the country, and how Amazon-like metrics may put patients at risk. Then in the subscribers-only section, Emanuel and Jason discuss their article on how the "brand safety" industry is stopping news websites from receiving vital funding.
Giant AI Platform Introduces ‘Bounties’ for Deepfakes of Real People
Andreessen Horowitz Invests in Civitai, Which Profits From Nonconsensual AI Porn
‘Literally Impossible:’ Labcorp Workers Say Productivity Goals Are Pushing Them to the Brink
Advertisers Don’t Want Sites Like Jezebel to Exist
Subscribe at 404media.co for this podcast's bonus content. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

17 snips
Nov 8, 2023 • 36min
How AI-Powered Cameras Took Over One Small American Town
Discover how AI-powered cameras took over a small town in America, transforming safety measures and sparking privacy debates. Explore the chaotic aftermath of an NFT conference where attendees faced painful UV light exposure. Delve into the absurd rise and fall of NFTs, highlighting the bizarre intertwining of surveillance and cryptocurrency culture. The discussion also uncovers a shocking scam that fleeced Amazon of $700,000, raising questions about the broader implications for delivery drivers. It's a wild ride through technology, community, and chaos!

6 snips
Nov 1, 2023 • 46min
YouTube Profiting from a Drug Market, and SIM Swappers Working with Ransomware Gangs
We're shaking things up with a new format! As well as the two stories available to all listeners, we have a third discussion at the end which is only for paying subscribers. We explain why at the top of the show.As for this week's articles, first Emanuel explains how YouTube is making money off a livestream of an open air drug market. After the break, Jason and Emanuel discuss their two stories about Israel-Palestine and the lack of archiving efforts and freedom of information. In the subscriber's only section, Joseph breaks down a wild new marriage in cybercrime: English-speaking SIM swappers and Eastern European ransomware operators.
YouTube Is Monetizing Human Suffering at an Open Air Drug Market
Elon Musk Broke All the Tools Historians Need to Archive Tweets About Israel-Gaza War
Netanyahu’s Government Is Trying to Suspend the Freedom of Information
SIM Swappers Are Working Directly with Ransomware Gangs Now
Subscribe at 404media.co for this podcast's bonus content. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

6 snips
Oct 25, 2023 • 41min
OSINT, Twitter, and a $30 Million Bitcoin Ring
The podcast covers topics such as a translation error on Instagram, the increasing influence of OSINT on Twitter, and a $30 million Bitcoin laundering ring in New York.

9 snips
Oct 18, 2023 • 44min
AI is Muddying the Horrors of War, and a Film Community Implodes
AI image detectors are being used to discredit the real horrors of war in the Israel-Palestine conflict. The limitations of AI in analyzing images are discussed, along with its impact on shaping the perception of reality. A trademark dispute in the film photography community is causing controversy and distress. The hosts also touch on a ticket seller story and promote their platform.

13 snips
Oct 11, 2023 • 41min
SpongeBob, AI, and a Crisis Among Ticket Sellers
Dive into the quirky world of AI as Bing generates bizarre images of SpongeBob and 9/11, sparking discussions on the limits of creativity and sensitivity. The conversation shifts gears to the chaotic ticket reselling market, where a surge of credit card optimizers leads to an unexpected liquidity crisis following Travis Scott's concerts. Explore the intertwined fates of scalpers and fans as inflated supplies drive prices down. It's a captivating mix of humor, economics, and the complexities of modern tech!

Oct 4, 2023 • 41min
A Glitch Is Hiding Porn on YouTube, and Food Delivery Robots Feed Footage to the LAPD
This week we start with a super interesting set of stories about how a small community has found a glitch in YouTube. It lets the group upload basically anything it wants to the platform with little fear of the clip being deleted. That includes explicit videos which were on YouTube for weeks at a time. Emanuel spoke to those responsible.After the break, Jason explains how he got emails showing that the LAPD wants a "partnership" with food delivery robots. The reason? These robots are constantly recording their surroundings.
I Joined an Exclusive Club of YouTube Porn Hunters
People Are Using a Glitch to Upload Porn to YouTube and YouTube Can’t Delete It
Food Delivery Robots Are Feeding Camera Footage to the LAPD, Internal Emails Show
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

10 snips
Sep 27, 2023 • 55min
Ticket Scalpers, The New Frontier of AI Chat Bots, and Mass Doxing on TikTok
Ticket scalping, AI chatbots for sexual role play, and mass doxing on TikTok are discussed in this episode of the podcast.

Sep 20, 2023 • 39min
The Tool That ICE Can Use to Track Pregnancy Websites and Fortnite
On this week's episode you won't hear Jason because he is out on location reporting from a right to repair conference in New Orleans! Before that, he was in Las Vegas reporting on the ongoing ransomware crisis impacting MGM casinos. But you will hear Joseph, Sam, and Emanuel discuss a tool that ICE has purchased which gives it access to data from a pregnancy tracking website.Then after the break, we talk about the latest update to an ongoing sex trafficking case Sam has been following for years, and Emanuel talks about why game developers he spoke to are up in arms about recent changes to the game engine Unity.
iFixit Drastically and Retroactively Reduces ‘Repairability Score’ of the Current iPhone
I Gambled in MGM's Hacked Casinos
Inside ShadowDragon, The Tool That Lets ICE Monitor Pregnancy Tracking Sites and Fortnite Players
Original ‘Girls Do Porn’ Actor and Owner of MomPOV.com Arrested on Felony Charges
Girls Do Porn Actor and MomPOV.com Owner Indicted on Sex Trafficking Charges
“This Is a Disaster:” Game Developers Scramble to Deal With Unity’s New Fees
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

16 snips
Sep 14, 2023 • 41min
We Reveal One of the FBI's Most Closely Guarded Secrets
The hosts dive into the sensational world of AI-generated music, gauging reactions from fans over a fake Harry Styles track. They reveal an astonishing secret about a country that has helped the FBI intercept encrypted messages. The discussion glides through the murky waters of audio deepfakes, challenging the boundaries of authenticity in music. Legal battles surrounding information disclosure in the justice system spark a debate on transparency. The blend of technology, music, and law keeps listeners on the edge of their seats!