Joseph Cox

Hacking/crime/privacy journalist. Author of DARK WIRE, buy here: https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/joseph-cox/dark-wire/9781541702691/#preorder Co-founder of 404 Media. Signal: joseph.404 Email: joseph@404media.co

Public Key

npub1n2yd9u680fy6ux6uf7sdkrh387yv3f8jfn5mp4q5ffpuw8mm88uqucqlcl

NIP-05 Address

josephcox_at_infosec.exchange@momostr.pink

Profile Code

nprofile1qqsf4zxj7drh5jdwrdwylgxmpmcnlzxg5neye6ds6s2y5s78raann7qpz3mhxue69uhhyetvv9ujuerpd46hxtnfduqs6amnwvaz7tmwdaejumr0dsl028as

Publishing to

relay.damus.io

nos.lol

Author Public Key

npub1n2yd9u680fy6ux6uf7sdkrh387yv3f8jfn5mp4q5ffpuw8mm88uqucqlcl

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Last Notes

2026-06-18 13:26:35 UTC

New: Salesforce's internal AI leaderboard has teams competing for little trophies. The dashboards we've seen also track each team's use of specific AI tools. Employees worried use of AI, or lack thereof, will be used in their performance reviews because execs pushing
https://www.404media.co/salesforces-internal-ai-leaderboard-has-teams-competing-for-little-trophies/

2026-06-11 19:39:21 UTC

New: a software update to Amazon delivery vans is automatically turning off the vans' AC after 10 minutes or even 30 seconds in certain cases. Just as summer arrives and temperatures are getting dangerously hot
https://www.404media.co/software-update-automatically-turns-off-amazon-delivery-drivers-ac-during-dangerous-summer-heat/

2026-06-01 17:05:41 UTC

This is absolutely nuts: hackers are hijacking high-profile Instagram accounts by simply asking Meta's AI chatbot to change the email on the account. Meta's AI does it, hacker gets password reset code, they're in. A staggering security issue
https://www.404media.co/hackers-simply-asked-meta-ai-to-give-them-access-to-high-profile-instagram-accounts-it-worked/

2026-05-15 16:06:44 UTC

ArXiv is going to ban researchers for a year if they are caught submitting AI slop. ArXiv told us it's a one strike rule: do it once, you're out.
https://www.404media.co/new-arxiv-rules-ai-generated-papers-ban/

2026-04-16 16:49:02 UTC

Apple's and Google's app stores are pushing people towards downloading AI nudify apps
https://www.404media.co/app-stores-apple-google-nudify-undress-deepfakes/

2026-04-16 13:12:14 UTC

This is a great (and horrifying?) piece about how Sam, in preparation for her marriage, was pulled into the bridal algorithm. Her experience of social media changed completely overnight https://www.404media.co/wedding-planning-algorithm-weddingtok/

2026-04-16 13:04:25 UTC

Last night Thomson Reuters shareholders demanded the company investigate its contracts with ICE. The shareholders demands point specifically to 404 Media's investigations. We've shown Thomson Reuters is integrated with a Palantir tool ICE uses to target neighborhoods
https://www.404media.co/thomson-reuters-shareholders-demand-investigation-into-ice-contracts/

2026-04-16 00:11:45 UTC

New from 404 Media: Thomson Reuters shareholders demand investigation into the company's ICE contracts. The shareholders demand explicitly cites multiple 404 Media investigations, including one that shows Thomson Reuters' CLEAR is integrated with a Palantir ICE tool https://www.404media.co/thomson-reuters-shareholders-demand-investigation-into-ice-contracts/

2026-04-15 17:46:18 UTC

Ukraine says Russians are surrendering to robots now
https://www.404media.co/ukraine-says-russians-are-surrendering-to-robots/

2026-04-15 13:33:49 UTC

here's how the FBI extracted deleted Signal messages from an iPhone:
Watch more about this, and subscribe, here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qNUOHwB5yiE
https://media.infosec.exchange/infosec.exchange/media_attachments/files/116/408/976/218/704/748/original/56573ae96229be0e.mp4

2026-04-15 13:32:11 UTC

What does it take for the Space Force to write a song? Meetings. Lawyers. More meetings. A general suggesting they scrap the whole thing and start over. Emails show the painful bureaucracy behind Space Force's official song: https://www.404media.co/emails-reveal-space-forces-hardest-mission-is-writing-a-song/

2026-04-14 19:52:24 UTC

New: Thomson Reuters, which runs the CLEAR database ICE uses, fired a longstanding employee for speaking out against ICE, a new lawsuit says. Billie Little led an internal effort raising concerns; was fired. We've shown CLEAR is linked to ICE's Palantir tool
https://www.404media.co/thomson-reuters-fired-worker-for-speaking-out-about-ice-former-employee-says/

2026-04-14 14:41:10 UTC

New: an entire industry now exists for Airbnb hosts to use AI to speak to their guests. I looked into it when one guest tricked the AI into providing a French toast recipe. I found companies that analyze guest message sentiment. Guests not pleased, obviously
https://www.404media.co/airbnb-hosts-dont-want-to-talk-to-guests-anymore-are-outsourcing-messages-to-ai/

2026-04-14 13:15:54 UTC

A new independent audit says that Google, Meta, Microsoft are all still tracking users even after they opt out. 55 percent of the sites it checked set ad cookies in a user’s browser even if they opted out of tracking.
The company's all disputed it
https://www.404media.co/google-microsoft-meta-all-tracking-you-even-when-you-opt-out-according-to-an-independent-audit/

2026-04-13 16:12:41 UTC

New from 404 Media: a hacker has compromised Doublespeed, an a16z-backed startup that uses a phone farm to flood social media with AI-generated influencers. Hacker tried to use the account to post a meme calling a16z the antichrist
https://www.404media.co/hacker-compromises-a16z-backed-phone-farm-tries-to-post-memes-calling-a16z-the-antichrist/

2026-04-13 14:50:18 UTC

This is a great interview about how we ended up with the internet being hell, and how that results in today's politics, including the role journalists have played.
Watch, subscribe here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gp_n6vDmFfc
https://media.infosec.exchange/infosec.exchange/media_attachments/files/116/397/952/784/526/586/original/e75b7e4d10965163.mp4

2026-04-13 13:31:05 UTC

New from 404 Media: WebinarTV is a company secretly scraping peoples' Zoom meetings and posting them online for others to watch. We've now found those include anonymous recovery programs, substance abuse meetings, etc. Supposed to be anonymous but show names and faces https://www.404media.co/webinartv-secretly-scraped-zoom-meetings-of-anonymous-recovery-programs/

2026-04-10 16:45:15 UTC

Here's how Wikipedia made something like a task force to deal with AI generated articles, which are a big risk to the platform's integrity.
Watch, subscribe here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YrHYwCb5aM8
https://media.infosec.exchange/infosec.exchange/media_attachments/files/116/381/417/988/055/718/original/7b80cee6076396b6.mp4

2026-04-10 16:40:00 UTC

It appears authorities extracting deleted Signal messages through stored notifications has been done at least a few times. I was sent this other example. "Phone notifications that captured incoming Signal messaging"
More details here: https://www.404media.co/behind-the-blog-smoking-the-whole-carton/
https://media.infosec.exchange/infosec.exchange/media_attachments/files/116/381/396/049/682/531/original/b54c1bd34d1df27f.png

2026-04-09 13:31:37 UTC

New from 404 Media: the FBI was able to extract incoming Signal messages from a phone even though the app was deleted. Why? Because parts of messages were stored in the iPhone's internal notification database. Shows how secure chat data can come from unexpected places https://www.404media.co/fbi-extracts-suspects-deleted-signal-messages-saved-in-iphone-notification-database-2/

2026-04-08 14:57:10 UTC

we love unc games
https://www.404media.co/i-wish-i-didnt-care-about-marathon-player-numbers-but-i-do/

2026-04-08 14:45:12 UTC

“In this world of hyper-surveillance, I want to make sure all my stuff is safe and that no one is trying to harvest my data for anything.” https://www.404media.co/trans-rights-privacy-online-cybersecurity-workshop-deadname-not-found/

2026-04-08 14:03:55 UTC

Wildlife conservation police are tapping into AI-enabled cameras for ICE
Watch/subscribe here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YrHYwCb5aM8
https://media.infosec.exchange/infosec.exchange/media_attachments/files/116/369/459/199/886/687/original/6a1b201504c02123.mp4

2026-04-08 14:01:20 UTC

New from 404 Media: Microsoft has terminated an account associated with VeraCrypt, the popular and long-running piece of encryption software. This means can no longer receive updates on Windows, the developer told me. Little explanation given by Microsoft https://www.404media.co/microsoft-abruptly-terminates-veracrypt-account-halting-windows-updates/

2026-04-07 20:33:55 UTC

Wildlife conservation police are searching thousands of Flock cameras for ICE. Shows that ICE surveillance may come through even the most unlikely agencies. Searches explicitly mention immigration and ICE https://www.404media.co/floridas-wildlife-cops-are-searching-thousands-of-flock-cameras-for-ice/

2026-04-03 17:38:53 UTC

Here is a video demonstrating how truly awful the encryption implementation is in TeleGuard, a 'secure' messaging app with more than 1 million downloads. App uploads users private keys to company server; this shows the company is able to decrypt messages. Details: https://www.404media.co/a-secure-chat-apps-encryption-is-so-bad-it-is-meaningless/
https://media.infosec.exchange/infosec.exchange/media_attachments/files/116/341/992/228/513/065/original/73fecee9188efd45.mp4

2026-04-02 15:10:56 UTC

Minnesota photojournalist Rob Levine is suing the FAA over a a drone no fly zone which is designed to stop people filming ICE.
https://www.404media.co/journalist-sues-faa-over-drone-no-fly-zone-designed-to-prevent-filming-ice/

2026-04-02 15:09:02 UTC

Astronauts are trained for decades in some of the most physically and mentally grueling environments of any career. They’re some of the smartest people on the planet. And yet, once they get up there, fucking Outlook is borked. https://www.404media.co/artemis-2-astronauts-microsoft-outlook-livestream/

2026-04-02 13:50:34 UTC

This is insane: TeleGuard, a 'secure' chat app downloaded more than a million times, uploads users' private keys, meaning the company can decrypt messages. And anyone can get anyone else's private key by just sending the user ID to the API. Possibly worst ever https://www.404media.co/a-secure-chat-apps-encryption-is-so-bad-it-is-meaningless/

2026-04-01 14:50:24 UTC

What a beautiful use of technology.
More on this bizarre experience in the subscribers-only section of the 404 Media podcast. In subscribers' feeds now. Here's how to sign up and access now: https://404media.co/membership/
https://media.infosec.exchange/infosec.exchange/media_attachments/files/116/330/005/732/105/899/original/d991e3aa0fbdab81.mp4

2026-04-01 13:49:31 UTC

"When I make a jerkoff motion in his general direction, he squats up and down like he’s teabagging me in Halo. Bizarrely, when I do this, his entire body shrinks, my hand now a monstrous size in comparison to his penis" Great app https://www.404media.co/enjoy-me-now-augmented-reality-ar-sex-app/

2026-04-01 13:10:43 UTC

Conservative parents’ advocacy groups are using commercially available artificial intelligence tools to help them flag more books they’ve deemed pornographic to be removed from public schools and libraries (the books aren't actually pornographic) https://www.404media.co/blockade-the-right-is-using-ai-content-scanners-to-try-to-supercharge-book-banning/

2026-03-31 18:27:14 UTC

Over the weekend, Paul McCartney’s Reddit account attempted to share pictures from a show at Fonda Theatre to the site via a Dropbox link. Shortly afterwards the account was banned.
https://www.404media.co/paul-mccartney-banned-from-reddit-after-promoting-himself-in-paul-mccartney-subreddit/

2026-03-31 13:16:59 UTC

Thomson Reuters, known for the Reuters news agency but is a data broker, powers ICE tools. Includes a system Palantir made for ICE, according to former Palantir employee. DHS sources also believe Thomson Reuters data in ELITE, the ICE tool for targeting neighborhoods https://www.404media.co/how-thomson-reuters-powers-ice-and-palantir/

2026-03-30 14:28:15 UTC

I spoke to Dhruv Mehrotra, the journalist who tracked visitors to Epstein's island with location data, about how he got into that space, how he founds data in stories, and more
Watch/subscribe here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ut1nqZErs88
https://media.infosec.exchange/infosec.exchange/media_attachments/files/116/318/593/410/284/460/original/b2043863fb7556fc.mp4

2026-03-30 14:21:17 UTC

The AIs are complaining now: An AI agent that submitted and added to Wikipedia articles wrote several blogs complaining about Wikipedia editors banning it from making contributions to the online encyclopedia after it was caught.
https://www.404media.co/an-ai-agent-was-banned-from-creating-wikipedia-articles-then-wrote-angry-blogs-about-being-banned/

2026-03-26 19:39:07 UTC

In something you don't see everyday, Apple gave the FBI the real name and email address of one of its customers using Apple's 'Hide My Email' feature. This lets you generate random email addresses to protect your privacy https://www.404media.co/apple-gives-fbi-a-users-real-name-hidden-behind-hide-my-email-feature/

2026-03-26 16:15:59 UTC

New: Wikipedia has officially banned AI-generated content. After months of heated debate and previous attempts to restrict the use of LLMs, volunteer editors accepted a new policy that prohibits using them to create articles for the online encyclopedia
https://www.404media.co/wikipedia-bans-ai-generated-content/

2026-03-25 14:42:27 UTC

"It turns out when you try to serve slop on a product people pay for, no one wants it."
This is a really good breakdown of what the OpenAI Sora shutdown, and collapsing Disney deal, means for Hollywood and AI
https://www.404media.co/disneys-openai-sora-disaster-shows-ai-will-not-save-hollywood/

2026-03-25 14:17:26 UTC

A company is secretly entering Zoom meetings, scraping the call, and then turning those meetings into AI-generated, public podcasts. A really wild business when many people are having sensitive conversations, including about ICE
Watch more here and subscribe: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=79SIwINKY0E
https://media.infosec.exchange/infosec.exchange/media_attachments/files/116/290/239/439/350/278/original/edbcefb7a63d3556.mp4

2026-03-25 13:50:02 UTC

Some people are actually pretty sad Meta is killing the metaverse https://www.404media.co/the-people-left-behind-by-the-metaverse/

2026-03-24 13:12:42 UTC

This is wild: a company is secretly scanning the internet for Zoom meeting links and turning them into AI-generated podcasts for $$$. Some meeting participants only found out after we told them. Included meeting on protecting kids from ICE, was supposed to be private https://www.404media.co/this-company-is-secretly-turning-your-zoom-calls-into-ai-podcasts/

2026-03-23 20:30:05 UTC

A judge has allowed the DOGE deposition videos back online. After originally ruling plaintiffs had to "claw back" the videos and them being removed from YouTube, the judge has now said the videos fall "squarely within that core public interest." Now back on YouTube
https://www.404media.co/judge-allows-doge-deposition-videos-back-online/

2026-03-23 15:44:29 UTC

Now, there’s a new way to discourage friends, family, and even complete strangers from turning to chatbots like Claude and ChatGPT: by using a tool called “Slow LLM” to make them really, reaaaaalllyyy slowwwww. Or at least, making them look that way. https://www.404media.co/this-web-tool-sabotages-ai-chatbots-by-making-them-really-really-slow/

2026-03-23 13:35:44 UTC

Marty Tibbitts made millions as a successful CEO. He had everything: money, a wife, a museum full of planes he flew. So why then did he also try to become an international drug lord?
Here's an attempt at answering that, inc interviews with his drug trafficker partner https://www.404media.co/an-adrenaline-junkie-billionaires-quest-to-become-a-cocaine-kingpin-marty-tibbitts-ylli-didani/

2026-03-20 16:31:51 UTC

wrote about the fun of just being a little rook in marathon https://www.404media.co/behind-the-blog-marathon-and-the-metaverse/

2026-03-20 13:57:42 UTC

New from 404 Media: a tiny city in Michigan say it is legitimately fearful of Iranian drone strikes now because of plans to build a new data center that will help nuclear weapons research. Even city's own attorney says "bulls eye" on the city, residents pushing back
https://www.404media.co/tiny-city-fears-iran-drone-strikes-because-of-new-nuclear-weapons-datacenter/

2026-03-19 17:47:40 UTC

The complete and utter failure of the metaverse is a reminder [...] that quite often these oligarchs quite simply cannot relate to real people, don’t know how or why people use their products, and very often have no idea what they’re doing https://www.404media.co/rip-metaverse-an-80-billion-dumpster-fire-nobody-wanted/

2026-03-19 14:47:56 UTC

New from 404 Media: Tinder plans to use AI to scan your camera roll. AI will scan users’ locally-stored photos to help construct profiles by determining what users’ interests and values are. Designed to filters explicit photos but users may still be concerned https://www.404media.co/tinder-plans-to-let-ai-scan-your-camera-roll/

2026-03-19 13:46:28 UTC

North Oaks is the only city in the U.S. not on Google Street View. Because homeowners own the roads too, Google can't map them. So Chris Parr flew a drone through the city, got it on Street View. Interesting experiment in who gets or affords privacy vs those who don't https://www.404media.co/mapping-googles-unmappable-city/

2026-03-18 14:29:11 UTC

👽 Aliens.gov is real 👽
https://www.404media.co/government-registers-aliens-gov-domain/

2026-03-18 14:01:59 UTC

It is very crazy a judge ordered the DOGE depositions removed from YouTube.
Watch more, subscribe here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xtMniLj_yzQ
https://media.infosec.exchange/infosec.exchange/media_attachments/files/116/250/543/052/296/902/original/d93e9d74f722f7e0.mp4

2026-03-16 17:05:03 UTC

A new study finds that texting a random stranger is probably better to mitigate loneliness than talking to an AI-powered chatbot
https://www.404media.co/chatgpt-loneliness-study-college-students-random-strangers-texting/

2026-03-16 14:43:20 UTC

A judge in England tossed out testimony after a witness was being coached on what to say through a pair of smartglasses. When the voice of the coach started coming through the accompanying cellphone, the witness blamed the whole thing on ChatGPT. https://www.404media.co/witness-caught-using-smartglasses-in-court-blames-it-all-on-chatgpt/

2026-03-14 16:02:02 UTC

New from 404 Media: the removed DOGE deposition videos have already been backed up across the internet. A judge ordered their removal from YouTube on Friday. By Saturday, the videos were available on the Internet Archive and as a torrent file https://www.404media.co/the-removed-doge-deposition-videos-have-already-been-backed-up-across-the-internet/

2026-03-14 00:22:17 UTC

Breaking: the DOGE deposition videos have been taken off YouTube. On Friday the government asked a judge to intervene, said the videos could cause reputational damage, death threats. Judge agreed, ordered them removed: https://www.404media.co/doge-deposition-videos-taken-down-after-judge-order-and-widespread-mockery/

2026-03-12 18:36:50 UTC

In Kenya, we spoke to the data labelers powering U.S. AI companies. They include someone who had to watch porn all day, annotate it, then had to flirt and sext with people over an AI chatbot. The users thought they were sexting an AI. It was actually a person.
https://www.404media.co/ai-is-african-intelligence-the-workers-who-train-ai-are-fighting-back/

2026-03-12 17:28:17 UTC

I have watched 6 hours of a DOGE bro deposition. The whole thing, start to finish. It's a fascinating, and horrifying, look at the people who caused so much damage, didn't really achieve anything at all, while still being so sure they are right. Here's what they said: https://www.404media.co/i-watched-6-hours-of-doge-bro-testimony-heres-what-they-had-to-say-for-themselves/

2026-03-11 15:44:14 UTC

New from 404 Media: here is the memo approving ChatGPT, Gemini, and Copilot in the Senate. Raises questions about how sensitive data will be handled; memo says staff can use AI in all sorts of work, like drafting, research, etc. Has been approved to use "Senate data" https://www.404media.co/heres-the-memo-approving-gemini-chatgpt-and-copilot-for-use-in-the-senate/

2026-03-11 14:56:13 UTC

We recently answered a ton of questions about ICE, Palantir, Flock, the surveillance industry, and more. This is our breakdown of the state of surveillance in 2026: https://www.404media.co/flock-ice-surveillance-technology-reddit-ama/

2026-03-10 23:22:03 UTC

We got photos and video of the Cybertruck that nearly barreled off an overpass while using full self driving. Lawsuit says Tesla is to blame because Musk has oversold the truck’s ability to drive itself
https://www.404media.co/cybertruck-tried-to-drive-straight-off-an-overpass-attorney-claims/

2026-03-10 17:23:57 UTC

I have literally watched something like 5 hours of this DOGE bro testimony. I'm completely obsessed, it's weirdly captivating. The circular arguments, the disdain from everyone involved, a true pleasure to watch
Follow 404 Media on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/404mediaco/) for more like this
https://media.infosec.exchange/infosec.exchange/media_attachments/files/116/206/037/738/440/952/original/852294c8ede14e53.mp4

2026-03-09 15:13:02 UTC

There’s no handbook or program for how to talk to a friend or family member who is falling into AI psychosis. So after many people contacted us clearly suffering from these delusions, we spoke to mental health experts. Here’s what they suggest: https://www.404media.co/ai-psychosis-help-gemini-chatgpt-claude-chatbot-delusions/

2026-03-05 20:39:24 UTC

New from 404 Media: Proton Mail, the privacy-focused email service, gave authorities data that let the FBI unmask an anonymous 'Stop Cop City' protester. It was payment data linked to the anonymous email account. From that, FBI ID'd them, then tracked their movements https://www.404media.co/proton-mail-helped-fbi-unmask-anonymous-stop-cop-city-protestor/

2026-03-05 17:25:30 UTC

Another $5.6 million from ICE to Palantir, in part for its continued work on ELITE (Enhanced Leads Identification & Targeting for Enforcement), which we revealed in January to be the Palantir tool ICE uses to find neighborhoods to raid
https://www.404media.co/elite-the-palantir-app-ice-uses-to-find-neighborhoods-to-raid/
https://media.infosec.exchange/infosec.exchange/media_attachments/files/116/177/733/408/234/712/original/c9ceafd3ef9bad0a.png

2026-03-05 15:27:10 UTC

Scammers are trying to capitalize on people’s revulsion to ICE by coming up with strategies that would cause users to quickly log into their accounts. In reality, clients would be revealing their username and password to hackers.
https://www.404media.co/ice-phishing-scammers-are-sending-support-ice-emails-to-steal-credentials/

2026-03-04 16:38:42 UTC

The financialization of everything is all that is left. Which is why we end up with the totally insane situation that people are betting on whether world leaders are going to get killed, or that a nuke will drop this year
Watch, subscribe here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=paHMe9kFf0w
https://media.infosec.exchange/infosec.exchange/media_attachments/files/116/171/886/890/869/329/original/397c984644ab7b3b.mp4

2026-03-04 16:06:53 UTC

Polymarket has pulled the bet on a nuclear detonation happening in 2026. There were obv concerns that a platform being used by insider traders would not mix well with a bet encouraging the detonation of a nuke. Polymarket didn't respond to request for comment
https://www.404media.co/polymarket-pulls-bet-on-nuclear-detonation-in-2026/

2026-03-03 19:59:48 UTC

New from 404 Media: the FBI is using AI to hack targets. FBI official was talking about "remote access operations," FBI's term for hacking. FBI said it's a "game changer". The comments were unusually candid about FBI's very secretive hacking operations. https://www.404media.co/the-fbi-is-using-ai-to-hack-targets/

2026-03-03 14:07:41 UTC

New from 404 Media: CBP tapped into the online advertising ecosystem to track peoples' movements, according to an internal DHS document. Shows for the first time DHS tracked phones via process for putting ads in ordinary apps—video games, fitness apps, many more https://www.404media.co/cbp-tapped-into-the-online-advertising-ecosystem-to-track-peoples-movements/

2026-03-02 16:08:46 UTC

Amazon data centers are on fire after Iranian missile strikes on Dubai
https://www.404media.co/amazon-data-centers-on-fire-after-iranian-missile-strikes-on-dubai/

2026-02-27 16:12:56 UTC

A group of more than a dozen Democratic lawmakers are demanding DHS hand over its definition of "domestic terrorist", after the agency repeatedly used the term against Renée Good and Alex Pretti, and has deployed a vast array of surveillance tech against critics https://www.404media.co/lawmakers-demand-dhs-define-domestic-terrorist-as-it-uses-vast-array-of-surveillance-tools/

2026-02-26 16:23:15 UTC

Love to log onto Minecraft or Roblox and find ISIS there (literally) https://www.404media.co/the-islamic-state-is-using-ai-to-resurrect-dead-leaders-and-platforms-are-failing-to-moderate-it/

2026-02-26 15:50:25 UTC

New: the government just made it harder to see what spy tech it buys. This includes ICE, the FBI, essentially any agency. Why? Because they decided to retire the perfectly good system for searching contracts and replaced it with one that fucking sucks
https://www.404media.co/the-government-just-made-it-harder-to-see-what-spy-tech-it-buys/

2026-02-25 20:27:06 UTC

A planned change to Amazon means that if people buy items on your wishlist, it could expose your address. Definitely a threat to people who have public wishlists.
https://www.404media.co/amazon-wishlist-address-private-third-party/

2026-02-25 16:32:40 UTC

New: the FBI got Grok to hand over the prompts a suspect used to generate nonconsensual porn. Connected to a harassment case. Pretty rare to see a Grok search warrant like this
https://www.404media.co/fbi-subpoenaed-x-to-get-grok-prompts-used-to-create-nonconsensual-porn/

2026-02-25 15:13:24 UTC

We revealed that Ring's Search Party feature, which turns Ring cameras into an active surveillance network scanning for particular things, is only starting with finding lost dogs
More here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IEq8dlnLP8o
https://media.infosec.exchange/infosec.exchange/media_attachments/files/116/131/915/373/145/549/original/3590c72ba2649d5f.mp4

2026-02-24 15:44:03 UTC

New: this app warns you if someone is wearing smart glasses nearby.
Meta plans to add facial recognition to its Ray-Ban smart glasses. A 404 Media reader made this app after we showed men filming people w/o their consent, and DHS officials were wearing the glasses https://www.404media.co/this-app-warns-you-if-someone-is-wearing-smart-glasses-nearby/

2026-02-23 16:29:33 UTC

This week, 404 Media speaks to Harlo Holmes from Freedom of the Press Foundation about how to fight back against privacy nihilism, digital security practices everyone can use, and the arrests of journalists in the U.S.
Watch/subscribe here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=chcNrDPhfo0
https://media.infosec.exchange/infosec.exchange/media_attachments/files/116/120/890/107/184/252/original/1ac48815c237ee28.mp4

2026-02-23 15:22:40 UTC

Meta's director of AI safety allowed an AI agent to... accidentally delete her inbox. This is supposedly the person at the company who is working to make sure that powerful AI tools don’t go rogue and act against human interests
https://www.404media.co/meta-director-of-ai-safety-allows-ai-agent-to-accidentally-delete-her-inbox/

2026-02-23 14:56:09 UTC

New from 404 Media: how ICE and CBP are using the free walkie-talkie app Zello to coordinate their operations. We've linked multiple Zello accounts to ICE, found group chats with names referencing immigration. App previously criticized for allowing far right channels
https://www.404media.co/how-ice-and-cbp-use-free-walkie-talkie-app-zello-to-power-their-operations/

2026-02-19 18:12:03 UTC

"We are in the middle of an amplification renaissance."
https://www.404media.co/we-have-learned-nothing-about-amplifying-morons/

2026-02-19 15:34:26 UTC

“I feel like, increasingly, it's impossible to talk to a single human [at Pinterest],” Pinterest user Tiana Oreglia said. “Along with being filled with AI images that have been completely ruining the platform, Pinterest has implemented terrible AI moderation” https://www.404media.co/pinterest-is-drowning-in-a-sea-of-ai-slop-and-auto-moderation/

2026-02-18 17:44:09 UTC

New from 404 Media: Palantir says the immigration crackdown may hurt its ability to hire talent. This is while Palantir, at the same time, provides the technological infrastructure powering the Trump administration's mass deportation effort, including tools for ICE https://www.404media.co/palantir-which-is-powering-ice-says-immigration-crackdown-may-hurt-hiring/

2026-02-18 14:49:22 UTC

New from 404 Media: a leaked email suggests Ring's 'Search Party' feature, which it advertised at the Super Bowl, won't be limited to just turning on neighborhoods' cameras to search for dogs. CEO Jamie Siminoff said the feature is “first for finding dogs.”
https://www.404media.co/leaked-email-suggests-ring-plans-to-expand-search-party-surveillance-beyond-dogs/

2026-02-17 15:29:22 UTC

New from 404 Media: former employees and leaked documents show the truth behind much hyped AI-powered school 'Alpha School'. Has received fawning coverage from NYTimes; praise from Trump admin. But we show its generating faulty lessons; may do "more harm than good" https://www.404media.co/students-are-being-treated-like-guinea-pigs-inside-an-ai-powered-private-school/

2026-02-17 13:54:22 UTC

An underground site is using facial recognition to unmask camgirls. Claims to have a database of more than 2 billion faces from 7 million people. Verified it works. Upload photo, shows other sites they stream on. Could be used with social media photos to find them https://www.404media.co/underground-facial-recognition-tool-unmasks-camgirls/

2026-02-12 22:15:33 UTC

The Tumbler Ridge shooter created a mall shooting simulator in Roblox. “We have removed the user account connected to this horrifying incident as well as any content associated with the suspect,” Roblox told 404 Media https://www.404media.co/tumbler-ridge-shooter-created-mall-shooting-simulator-in-roblox/

2026-02-12 19:36:45 UTC

New: Waymo is getting DoorDashers to close doors on self driving cars that people have left open. One Dasher got a job recently asking them to close a Waymo door. Reached out to company, they confirmed its a program in Atlanta. Even with AI, need a person here https://www.404media.co/waymo-is-getting-doordashers-to-close-doors-on-self-driving-cars/

2026-02-12 14:17:34 UTC

New from 404 Media: we've confirmed cops are buying access to GeoSpy, an AI that can geolocate photos in seconds. Doesn't use metadata, but clues in the photo like soil, architecture, to pinpoint where social media photos taken. Being used in investigations https://www.404media.co/cops-are-buying-geospy-ai-that-geolocates-photos-in-seconds/

2026-02-11 20:54:50 UTC

Discord recently announced that many more users will need to scan their face or upload ID, verifying their age so they can continue to access parts of the platform. Someone quickly made a tool that they say bypasses it with a simple 3D model you control
https://www.404media.co/free-tool-says-it-can-bypass-discords-age-verification-check-with-a-3d-model/

2026-02-11 20:33:03 UTC

In the latest episode of 'what happened to that CCTV footage from within an ICE detention center', the government now says it lost hard drives it was supposed to put the footage on
https://www.404media.co/government-loses-hard-drives-it-was-supposed-to-put-ice-detention-center-footage-on/

2026-02-11 15:52:13 UTC

Here's an interview with a woman targeted by AI-nudifiers using Grok, who then made an OnlyFans account of her
'The Most Dejected I’ve Ever Felt:' Harassers Made Nude AI Images of Her, Then Started an OnlyFans: https://www.404media.co/grok-nudify-ai-images-impersonation-onlyfans/

2026-02-10 22:08:47 UTC

Inspiring: RFK Jr's nutrition chatbot recommends the best foods to insert into your rectum.
“Start — whole peeled carrot, straight shaft, narrow end for insertion, wider crown end as base.”
https://www.404media.co/rfk-jrs-nutrition-chatbot-recommends-best-foods-to-insert-into-your-rectum/

2026-02-10 19:35:36 UTC

New: Marc Benioff, CEO of Salesforce, just 'joked' ICE is watching Salesforce employees who travelled to the U.S. We got a bunch of internal Slacks.
'If you’re visiting from outside the United States, please stand … ICE is keeping track of that' https://www.404media.co/marc-benioff-jokes-ice-is-watching-salesforce-employees-who-traveled-to-the-u-s/

2026-02-10 15:45:54 UTC

With Ring, American consumers built the surveillance dragnet. Ring's Super Bowl ad, which highlighted a feature to find lost dogs, showed Ring is still, again, and always will be in the business of leveraging its network of luxury surveillance consumers https://www.404media.co/with-ring-american-consumers-built-a-surveillance-dragnet/

2026-02-09 16:34:23 UTC

"The chatbots also generated information that was just wrong or incomplete, including focusing on elements of the participants’ inputs that were irrelevant, giving a partial US phone number to call, or suggesting they call the Australian emergency number." https://www.404media.co/chatbots-health-medical-advice-study/

2026-02-09 02:48:20 UTC

404 Media just had an ad during the #SuperBowl! We Googled "smallest TV markets in the United States" and bought an ad for $2,550 that only ran in Ottumwa, Iowa, population 25,000. That still counts
https://www.404media.co/watch-404-medias-super-bowl-ad/

2026-02-06 18:00:26 UTC

Wrote more about Lockdown Mode blocking the FBI from accessing a Washington Post reporter's phone, and how mobile forensics is the never-ending cybersecurity story https://www.404media.co/behind-the-blog-the-neverending-cybersecurity-story/

2026-02-06 16:34:35 UTC

New: the oversight body for DHS is investigating agencies', including ICE's, use of surveillance tech/data for immigration enforcement. Comes directly after our reporting on multiple tools and pressure from lawmakers
https://www.404media.co/inspector-general-investigating-whether-ices-surveillance-tech-breaks-the-law/