The 404 Media Podcast 404 Media
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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.
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Your Phone's Location is Exposed
Really excited about this one. We spend the entire episode talking about SS7, the fundamental network and protocol which is both at the heart of the world's telecommunications infrastructure, and crucial for governments, spy firms, and criminals to monitor people or intercept texts. In the first half we break ton what SS7 is, why it's an issue, and our nearly 10 years of experience covering it. Then, we talk about the news we revealed about a U.S. cybersecurity official breaking rank with his agency to expose SS7 attacks in the U.S. In the subscribers-only section, we talk about Axon's new ChatGPT-like tool which automatically creates narratives from police bodycam audio, and all the implications that might have.
Cyber Official Speaks Out, Reveals Mobile Network Attacks in U.S.
Here Is What Axon’s Bodycam Report Writing AI Looks Like
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Why the Solar Storm Broke Tractors and GPS
We've got something of a John Deere special episode this week. We start with Jason's piece on how the recent solar storm knocked out GPS for John Deere tractors, having a direct impact on farming across the country. After the break, Jason breaks down his deep dive into the various walls closing around John Deere's right to repair monopoly. In the subscribers-only section, we've got two wild Amazon stories: one on the bots used by Amazon workers to book time off, and another on "Swag Bucks," Amazon's internal employee cash system.
Solar Storm Knocks Out Farmers' Tractor GPS Systems During Peak Planting Season
The Walls Are Closing in on John Deere’s Tractor Repair Monopoly
Amazon Workers Use Bots to Claim Limited Supply of Time Off
Amazon’s Swag Store Sells Neck Fans to Prevent Workers from Overheating
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Facebook is the 'Zombie Internet'
Apologies for some audio issues this week, they'll be fixed next time, but for now we have a super packed episode! We start with Jason's months-long deep dive into what Facebook has become with all of that AI-generated garbage on the site. It's not the dead internet, it's something much worse. After the break, Emanuel explains how Pokemon Go players are manipulating mapping technology to cheat at the game. Then in the subscribers-only section, Jason breaks down the latest cat and mouse game between ticket sellers and brokers.
Facebook’s AI Spam Isn’t the ‘Dead Internet’: It’s the Zombie Internet
Pokémon Go Players Invent Fake Beaches on Real Maps to Catch Rare Wigletts
How Resellers Are Transferring Billie Eilish's 'Untransferable' Tickets
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A Lost Media Mystery
We start this week's episode with a mystery: where did a 17-second music snippet that has puzzled online sleuths for years really come from? Sam breaks it down. After the break, Joseph explains how an online service was scraping and selling Discord server messages for as little as $5. Then in the subscribers-only section, Jason takes us into the world of influencers who are using AI livestream apps, complete with fake audiences, and how they're being used to target women.
Long Lost Song Hunted By Thousands Found in 80s Porno
Discord Shuts Down ‘Spy Pet’ Bots That Scraped, Sold User Messages
Men Use Fake Livestream Apps With AI Audiences to Hit on Women
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The Humane Ai Pin Is a Disaster
This is a long one! First Joseph previews his upcoming book, DARK WIRE. Go to the link below and enter "DW20" for 20% off! Also make sure to redeem your preorder behind-the-scenes bonus content. As for this week's stories, we start off with Jason explaining why we can, we must, dunk on the Humane Ai Pin, a piece of hardware that is AI's Juicero moment. After the break, Emanuel shows that Instagram is advertising deepfake nudify apps, the sort that are being abused right now in schools. In the subscribers-only section, we talk a bunch about Reddit, and especially how a tool has been made to sprinkle AI-generated product placements into popular Reddit threads.
Preorder DARK WIRE for bonus content and 20% off with code "DW20"
We Can, and We Must, Clown on the Humane AI Pin Forever
Instagram Advertises Nonconsensual AI Nude Apps
AI Is Poisoning Reddit to Promote Products and Game Google With 'Parasite SEO'
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The 'Com World War'
We start this episode with Joseph's latest fly-on-the-wall investigation into the Com, the nebulous online entity and culture that is linked to some of the most high profile and brazen data breaches in recent history. Joseph sat in their chatrooms while rival hackers and criminals doxed and physically robbed one another. A true melding of digital and physical crime. After the break, Jason breaks down why some researchers are calling out Google on some of its AI science research. In the subscribers-only section, Sam explains why a guy made an AI-powered (kinda) sex box.
Inside the ‘Com World War’: Robberies, Brickings, and ‘Drama’
Is Google's AI Actually Discovering 'Millions of New Materials?'
This Man Wants to ‘Save the World’ By Letting You Jerk Off Into a Computer
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