Joseph Cox

Joseph Cox

Joseph is an award-winning investigative journalist focused on generating impact. His work has triggered hundreds of millions of dollars worth of fines, shut down tech companies, and much more.
262 posts
Podcast: Your Bluesky Posts Are Probably Training AI
Podcast

Podcast: Your Bluesky Posts Are Probably Training AI

We talk about the big datasets of Bluesky posts being offered to AI; how people are breaking into Redbox systems; and how the U.S. government is clamping down on data brokers.
FTC Bans Location Data Company That Powers the Surveillance Ecosystem
News

FTC Bans Location Data Company That Powers the Surveillance Ecosystem

Venntel is a primary provider of location data to the government or other companies that sell to U.S. agencies. The FTC is banning Venntel from selling data related to health clinics, refugee shelters, and much more.
U.S. Government Tries to Stop Data Brokers That Help Dox People Through Credit Data
News

U.S. Government Tries to Stop Data Brokers That Help Dox People Through Credit Data

A new proposed rule change from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) could curtail the sale of American's personal data. That's if the agency survives the Trump presidency.
Podcast: Pokémon Go to The Military Industrial Complex
Podcast

Podcast: Pokémon Go to The Military Industrial Complex

Niantic, the company behind Pokémon Go, is building an AI model based on user data; we discuss the rise of AI pimping, and a phone sold the U.S. military is expanding to the public.
Tether Has Become a Massive Money Laundering Tool for Mexican Drug Traffickers, Feds Say
News

Tether Has Become a Massive Money Laundering Tool for Mexican Drug Traffickers, Feds Say

Tether is being used on a massive scale by large scale drug traffickers, to the point where Tether is sold cheaper in Mexico due to its links to drugs, according to court records reviewed by 404 Media.
I Don't Own a Cellphone. Can This Privacy-Focused Network Change That?
News

I Don't Own a Cellphone. Can This Privacy-Focused Network Change That?

A small tech company called Cape has been selling a privacy-focused cellphone service to the U.S. military. Now Cape will be offering its product to high-risk members of the public.
Podcast: Buzzfeed's AI Ads Are a Disaster
Podcast

Podcast: Buzzfeed's AI Ads Are a Disaster

We chat Buzzfeed's AI-powered ads, a big Graykey leak, and the wave of publishers making deals with AI companies.
Leaked Documents Show What Phones Secretive Tech ‘Graykey’ Can Unlock
News

Leaked Documents Show What Phones Secretive Tech ‘Graykey’ Can Unlock

The documents provide never-been-seen insight into the current cat-and-mouse game between forensics companies and phone manufacturers Apple and Google.
Pregnancy Tracking App ‘What to Expect’ Refuses to Fix Issue that Allows Full Account Takeover
News

Pregnancy Tracking App ‘What to Expect’ Refuses to Fix Issue that Allows Full Account Takeover

Vulnerabilities in the popular What to Expect app include one that allows a full account take over, and another that exposes that email address of forum admins.
Podcast: How Apple is Locking Out Cops
Podcast

Podcast: How Apple is Locking Out Cops

We talk about Apple's latest security change, the big move to Bluesky, and how we plan to cover the next administration.
'FYI. A Warrant Isn’t Needed': Secret Service Says You Agreed To Be Tracked With Location Data
FOIA

'FYI. A Warrant Isn’t Needed': Secret Service Says You Agreed To Be Tracked With Location Data

The Secret Service has used a technology called Locate X which uses location data harvested from ordinary apps installed on phones. Because users agreed to an opaque terms of service page, the Secret Service believes it doesn't need a warrant.
Here’s the Indictment Against the Alleged Snowflake and AT&T Hacker
News

Here’s the Indictment Against the Alleged Snowflake and AT&T Hacker

The indictment also charges a second hacker that 404 Media previously reported as being linked to the AT&T breach.