The 404 Media Podcast

Exploring flaws in a surveillance study, the impact of Pornhub leaving Texas, and the transformation of Deadspin into a gambling site. Unpacking the shady practices of Flock, age verification laws' effects on internet users, and the challenges of content removal from the web.

Topics discussed in the podcast include AI-generated spam on Facebook, Pornhub pulling out of Texas, and backdoors in safe lock products. The hosts delve into the impact of AI-generated content, online privacy concerns, and legal battles surrounding adult content consumption. Exclusive content for subscribers is also highlighted.

Hackers exploiting electronic prescription systems for drugs, 404 Media tied to fake Netflix trailer by Russia, subscribers section on ElevenLabs voice bypassing policy

Exploring the world of AI-powered TikTok and Instagram hustlers who use AI tools to flood platforms with autogenerated content, some making big money. Then diving into the controversial topic of Etsy sellers turning fan fiction into bound books without authors' consent. Finally, discussing the impact of a right to repair victory in Oregon on Apple globally.

Tumblr and WordPress selling user data for AI training, chaos within the companies, concerns about AI scraping content, the war on libraries and challenges faced in providing information and education

Investigative journalist Byron Tau discusses the hidden alliance of tech and government in the US surveillance state. The conversation delves into the adtech surveillance industry, real-time bidding, and the intricate world of data brokers. It also highlights the intertwining of government funding and data surveillance, revealing controversial data harvesting practices.

A ton of stuff to talk about this week. We start with Jason and Emanuel's dive into how a deepfake nudify app rocked a high school. We got a copy of the police report, and more than anything else it shows we're simply not ready for what deepfakes will mean for ordinary people. Then Joseph talks about uncovering a network of fake funeral livestream scams on Facebook. In the subscribers-only section, we talk about Jason and Sam's very serious investigation into whether a certain brand of vibrator is actually delivering malware or not. ‘What Was She Supposed to Report?:’ Police Report Shows How a High School Deepfake Nightmare Unfolded Fake Funeral Live Stream Scams Are All Over Facebook Do Spencer’s Vibrators Have Malware on Them? An Investigation Subscribe for bonus content at 404media.co. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We've got a real variety this week. First, Emanuel talks about Paradox.ai, a tool that massive brands like McDonald's, CVS, and FedEx are using to screen job applicants. It uses a bit of AI, but really this is more of a labor story. Then Jason breaks down Stract, an open source search engine that is trying to do search better than the increasingly bad experience of Google. In the subscribers-only section, the group goes long on how a viral story about a botnet of toothbrushes turned out to not be true, and how we've dealt with similar stories before. Service Jobs Now Require Bizarre Personality Test From AI Company This Guy Has Built an Open Source Search Engine as an Alternative to Google in His Spare Time The Viral Smart Toothbrush Botnet Story Is Not Real Get that bonus content by subscribing at 404media.co Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Joseph, an investigator into OnlyFake, shares his findings on the ease of generating convincing fake IDs. The implications for crime and cybersecurity are huge. The podcast also covers AI-generated audio porn and the low-tech response to deepfakes. Scams related to Instagram ads are discussed in the subscriber-only section.

This podcast covers the Taylor Swift deepfakes disaster, the fallout of generative AI and social media, the extremist neo-Nazi group The Base, the evolution of the Dolphin model, and Microsoft creating a restrictive design tool as an alternative to open source tools.