Podcast: This Man Might Go to Prison for Wiping His Phone
The case of Samuel Tunick allegedly wiping a phone before DHS could search it; inside an AI-powered TIkTok Shop; and Google Earth's dumb AI tool.https://www.404media.co/podcast-this-man-might-go-to-prison-for-wiping-his-phone/
Apple's ‘Private Relay’ Is Exposing Users’ Real IP Addresses
Researchers found a group of issues that mean Private Relay isn't actually protecting users' real IP addresses. 404 Media verified the issues do expose IP addresses.https://www.404media.co/apples-private-relay-is-exposing-users-real-ip-addresses/
The SCREEN Act is a Christian Nationalist Nightmare
Mike Lee's SCREEN Act, which heads to Senate Commerce Committee for markup on Wednesday, would expand age verification requirements to a nearly limitless scope of websites, and is supported by the architects of Project 2025.https://www.404media.co/what-is-the-screen-act-age-verification-porn/
‘DO NOT MENTION ALPR USAGE’: How Cops Are Trying to Hide Their Use of Flock
“DO NOT MENTION ALPR USAGE TO THE OCCUPANTS OF THE VEHICLE. DO NOT MENTION ALPR USAGE IN YOUR REPORT OR COMPLAINT."‘Own the Narrative’: Leaked Flock Guide Shows How It Teaches Cops to Promote Its Tech
"This document shows a coordinated effort from Flock Safety to compel law enforcement agencies to convince our elected leaders to represent their interests as a company rather than the interests of concerned citizens."Why a Flock Worker Quit: ‘They Lied’
Jonathan Paz’s job was to convince cities to buy Flock cameras. After initially being enthusiastic about the company, he started to get disillusioned.We Need to Quarantine Aliens on the Moon, Scientists Propose
Researchers argue that a lunar biocontainment facility for extraterrestrial samples could prevent “the potential ecological devastation of an invasive extraterrestrial organism.”https://www.404media.co/we-need-to-quarantine-aliens-on-the-moon-scientists-propose/
Behind the Blog: Silent Retreat
This week, we discuss going into the woods, a "he admit it" moment, and a tofu sandwich.A Hidden 'Dark Dimension' Could Rewrite Our Understanding of the Universe
The nature of dark matter and dark energy are among the biggest mysteries in science. Scientists think an extra “dark dimension” could explain both, and they are putting the idea to the test.Inside an AI TikTok Shop Slop Factory That Shills Supplements Recalled By the FDA
How a company called Rosabella used AI content to market its supplements: "If you’re trying to sell health products to a 50-year-old, well, make your avatar 50 years old."Podcast: Flock Came to My Town. Here’s What I Did
What happened when Flock came to Matthew's town; the rise of no phone Luddite events; and the influencers just making up BS about Flock.https://www.404media.co/podcast-flock-came-to-my-town-heres-what-i-did/
‘The Government Hopes To Set a Precedent’: An Interview With the Man Charged for Allegedly Wiping His GrapheneOS Phone
The U.S. government has charged Samuel Tunick with allegedly typing in a passcode to wipe his phone before officers could search it. “I hope people understand that the charges against me are meant to intimidate people,” he said.Substackers Say New AI Detection Tool Is a ‘Witch Hunt’
“I’m not going to apologize for using AI in the creation process.”https://www.404media.co/substackers-say-new-ai-detection-tool-is-a-witch-hunt/
Apple’s iMessage Scanning Flagged a Video of My Friend's Dog as Nudity
Apple’s Sensitive Content Warning is supposed to protect users from unwanted nude images. It accidentally blurred my friend’s dog video.https://www.404media.co/apples-imessage-scanning-flagged-a-video-of-my-friends-dog-as-nudity/
Wikimedia Will Not Voluntarily Recognize Union a Supermajority of Its Workers Want
The Wikimedia Foundation waited until immediately after its largest annual conference to say it wouldn't voluntarily recognize its workers' union.This Man Bought Phone Location Data from Around the World (with Mike Yeagley)
Joseph speaks to Mike Yeagley about how he bought the world's location data, and what that means for everyone's privacy and security.https://www.404media.co/this-man-bought-phone-location-data-from-around-the-world-with-mike-yeagley/
Spotify's AI Problem Is So Bad Random People Are Stepping In to Track the Slop
Spotify doesn’t label AI music on its platform, so websites like SoullessMusic.com and SlopTracker.org do it instead.Being a Luddite Is Fun Again
As tech backlash hits the mainstream, the ‘Summer of Ludd’ proves we don’t need social media to hang out and have a good time.https://www.404media.co/luddite-events-nyc-off-tech-summer-of-ludd/
Scientists Uncover Lost ‘Golden Age’ of Languages That Ended 1,000 Years Ago
Scientists have predicted that human linguistic diversity flourished between 3,000 and 1,000 years ago, before declining with the rise of multinational states and colonial expansion.https://www.404media.co/scientists-uncover-lost-golden-age-of-languages-that-ended-1-000-years-ago/
Behind the Blog: No Spoilers
This week, we discuss astrology, Flock on the brain, The Odyssey, and more.