FOIA
U.S. Counterintel Buys Access to the Backbone of the Internet to Hunt Foreign Hackers
Getting information from the NSA would take too long, according to internal documents from a counterintelligence agency. So it turned to Team Cymru to buy netflow data that can allow analysts to track activity through virtual private networks.
Features
The End of Privacy is a Taylor Swift Fan TikTok Account Armed with Facial Recognition Tech
A viral account is using off-the-shelf facial recognition tech to dox random people on the internet for the amusement of millions of viewers. One victim said they “felt a bit violated really.”
Behind The Blog
Behind the Blog: Busted Slots and Shadowy Surveillance
Joseph talks about why he focused on a surveillance vendor's politics, and Emanuel on the fallout from Google surfacing an AI-generated "selfie" of the infamous Tank Man.
Podcast
Podcast: The Tool That ICE Can Use to Track Pregnancy Websites and Fortnite
In this week's episode, Joseph, Sam, and Emanuel chat about ShadowDragon, a tool ICE has access to that hoovers up all sorts of data.
FOIA
Here's the Video Archive of the First FOIA Forum
For those who couldn't make it, here is a video recording of our recent FOIA forum.
Features
Inside ShadowDragon, The Tool That Lets ICE Monitor Pregnancy Tracking Sites and Fortnite Players
ShadowDragon tracks BabyCenter, a website for people expecting children, as well as social media sites specifically for Black people, bodybuilders, and the fetish community.
Podcast
Podcast: We Reveal One of the FBI’s Most Closely Guarded Secrets
In this week's episode, we play “Is That Audio Snippet an AI Generated Version of Harry Styles or Is It a Real Section of a Leaked Harry Styles Song?”
News
Customs and Border Protection Says It Will Stop Buying Smartphone Location Data
For years, journalists and lawmakers have investigated CBP and other agencies’ purchase of smartphone location data without a warrant. Now CBP says it will stop using such data at the end of the month.
Features
Revealed: The Country that Secretly Wiretapped the World for the FBI
For years the FBI ran its own encrypted phone company to intercept messages from thousands of people around the globe. One country was critical to that operation, whose identity was unknown to the public. Until now.
News
AI Image Company Rebrands After 404 Media Investigation
On Wednesday 404 Media reported Kaedim had promised AI-powered 2D to 3D conversions, but had actually used human workers. Hours later, Kaedim rebranded its website and messaging.
Features
Buzzy AI Startup for Generating 3D Models Used Cheap Human Labor
Kaedim's founder was recently in a Forbes 30 Under 30 list for the company's 2D to 3D image conversion. In some cases artists produced the work wholecloth, one source said.
News
Leaked Email: CBP Tells Airports Its New Facial Recognition Target is 75% of Passengers Leaving the US
An internal airport email obtained by 404 Media shows CBP is changing how it measures its goals for biometric boarding when people fly out of the U.S.