The 404 Media Podcast

This week we discuss our coverage of the U.S.-Israel strikes against Iran, specifically how Polymarket and Kalshi are letting people profit from death, and that Amazon data centers were on fire after missiles hit Dubai. Then Emanuel talks about how AI translations are adding 'hallucinations' to Wikipedia articles. In the subscribers-only section, Sam tells us about a change with Amazon wishlists that may expose your address.

0:00 - Intro

1:32 - With Iran War, Kalshi and Polymarket Bet That the Depravity Economy Has No Bottom

29:07 - AI Translations Are Adding Hallucinations To Wikipedia Articles

SUBSCRIBER'S STORY - Amazon Change Means Wishlists Might Expose Your Address

YouTube Version: https://youtu.be/paHMe9kFf0w
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Joseph speaks to Cooper Quintin, a security researcher and senior public interest technologist with the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF). Quintin is one of the people behind Rayhunter, an easy to install tool that can detect nearby IMSI-catchers. This tech, sometimes known as Stingrays, poses as a fake cellphone tower to track a phone’s location, intercept calls and texts, and can sometimes even deliver malware.

Rayhunter GitHub: https://github.com/EFForg/rayhunter

YouTube: https://youtu.be/vEFPPaOn0ts
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week we start with Jason’s follow up to Ring launching its ‘Search Party’ feature. It turns out, according to a leaked email he got, the feature is only starting with finding lost dogs. After the break, Emanuel explains why we’ve learned nothing about amplification when it comes to the recent looksmaxxing trend. In the subscribers-only section, Sam explains how Grok produced the real name of a sex worker who performs pseudonymously.

1:11 - Leaked Email Suggests Ring Plans to Expand ‘Search Party’ Surveillance Beyond Dogs⁠

30:26 - ⁠We Have Learned Nothing About Amplifying Morons⁠

⁠Grok Exposed a Porn Performer’s Legal Name and Birthdate—Without Even Being Asked⁠

YouTube version: https://youtu.be/IEq8dlnLP8o
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this week’s interview, Sam is joined by Harlo Holmes. Harlo is the Chief Security Programs Officer at Freedom of the Press Foundation. She’s a media scholar, software programmer, and activist.

Harlo and Sam discuss the important work she does every day, and why it’s only becoming more crucial. They also get into how to fight back against privacy nihilism, digital security practices everyone can be implementing regardless of their threat model, and the recent arrests and raids of journalists in the U.S.

Listen to the weekly podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or YouTube. Become a paid subscriber for access to this episode's bonus content and to power our journalism. If you’re a paid subscriber, check your inbox for an email from our podcast host Transistor for a link to the subscribers-only version! You can also add that subscribers feed to your podcast app of choice and never miss an episode that way. The email should also contain the subscribers-only unlisted YouTube link for the extended video version too. It will also be in the show notes in your podcast player.


404 Media and Freedom of the Press Foundation Sue DHS


FBI Couldn’t Get into WaPo Reporter’s iPhone Because It Had Lockdown Mode Enabled

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week we start with Emanuel’s wild story about Alpha School, a very hyped AI-powered school. Emanuel got leaked documents and spoke to former employees. After the break, Sam tells us what happens when someone decides to make an AI nudify OnlyFans with your likeness. In the subscribers-only section, Joseph tells us about the agencies buying GeoSpy, an AI that can geolocate photos in seconds.

2:49 - Understood: Deepfake Porn Empire

5:47 - 'Students Are Being Treated Like Guinea Pigs:' Inside an AI-Powered Private School

40:01 - 'The Most Dejected I’ve Ever Felt:' Harassers Made Nude AI Images of Her, Then Started an OnlyFans

YouTube version: https://youtu.be/fy-38hIhykQ

Understood: Deepfake Porn Empire

'Students Are Being Treated Like Guinea Pigs:' Inside an AI-Powered Private School

'The Most Dejected I’ve Ever Felt:' Harassers Made Nude AI Images of Her, Then Started an OnlyFans


Cops Are Buying ‘GeoSpy’, an AI That Geolocates Photos in Seconds

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices