New from 404 Media: inside the underground site where "neural networks" churn out fake IDs - I tested the service, called OnlyFake, made two IDs in minutes - I then used one to successfully bypass the identity verification check on a cryptocurrency exchange - Massive implications for crime, cybersecurity. What does it mean for us when fake IDs are a mouse click away?
New: 404 Media's @samleecole and @emanuelmaiberg traced those viral (and abusive) AI porn images of Taylor Swift to a specific Telegram community. That community uses Microsoft's AI tools. This is the source of nonconsensual Swift porn now spreading online https://www.404media.co/ai-generated-taylor-swift-porn-twitter/
New: Google News is boosting AI-generated garbage articles that rip-off other peoples' work. One company even admitted practice to me. Even wilder: Google says it doesn't focus on whether an article was made by AI or a human for News, opening way for more https://www.404media.co/google-news-is-boosting-garbage-ai-generated-articles/
For sake of public access, we've downloaded the docs and put them onto 404 Media as a .zip for you to download for free, no need to pay the US court system
Looking for a last minute holiday gift? You can gift a 404 Media sub! - support investigative tech journalism - bonus podcast content every week and bonus eps - behind the blog articles - ad free articles - FOIA explainers - merch discounts https://www.404media.co/404-media-gift-guide-a-gift-subscription-to-404-media/
New from 404 Media: you may have seen that a group of Polish hackers repaired trains the manufacturers had bricked (hackers were successful and helped). Now the train company is threatening to sue them. We spoke to the hackers.
The 404 Media podcast is up! - The mystery of how someone flew into LAX with no ticket or passport - The latest Patreon ban hammer - [Subscribers-only] a massive fuck up by Verizon and, in part, why I don't use a phone (see this clip)
This week's Behind the Blog is out! - me on which US procurement database to use to find stories (like US Special Forces buying Anduril drone today) - Sam on the fallout around male tech conference founder - Jason on our FOIA Forum (w/ link to the video) https://www.404media.co/behind-the-blog-pickleball-conference-fake-speakers-drones/
The report really is extraordinary. For years, me and a few other journalists have investigated the US government's purchase of location data. It turns out agencies were breaking the law basically the entire time. ICE has been told to stop and has refused.
CBP, ICE, Secret Service all had a legal obligation to get approved privacy impact assessments before buying the tech. All failed. CBP had interim policies. ICE and Secret Service didn't have any.
"The report makes it clear that DHS agencies have been playing it fast and loose with their acquisition of Americans’ location data," EFF says. Says Congress needs to pass law forcing warrants (proposed law in response to my reporting is pushing for that).
New: multiple sources, including executives, explain why sites like Jezebel are being shut down despite being very popular. The "brand safety" industry has created a paranoid environment where companies are not prepared to run ads next to important issues.
In the world of brand safety, black box algorithms are deciding what is safe, what is not. On top of that, some companies explicitly saying exclude important social issues.
It is not the journalism. It is the ad industry that is failing it.