Samantha Cole

Samantha Cole

Sam Cole is writing from the far reaches of the internet, about sexuality, the adult industry, online culture, and AI. She's the author of How Sex Changed the Internet and the Internet Changed Sex.
230 posts
Pornhub ‘Deeply Regrets’ Hosting Girls Do Porn Content
News

Pornhub ‘Deeply Regrets’ Hosting Girls Do Porn Content

Pornhub’s parent company has reached an agreement with the US Attorney’s office after an FBI investigation.
Behind the Blog: RIP Omegle, Refund Scams, and Tablet Thieves
Behind The Blog

Behind the Blog: RIP Omegle, Refund Scams, and Tablet Thieves

This week, we discuss a groundbreaking investigation into Labcorp labor issues, the role of court records in our reporting, how "brand safety" has doomed the news industry, and the demise of a controversial website.
Minnesotans Have Some Really Good Flag Redesign Ideas

Minnesotans Have Some Really Good Flag Redesign Ideas

Minnesota asked the people to design a new state flag, and the people delivered.
Omegle, the Site That Paired Strangers for Video Chats, Is Dead
News

Omegle, the Site That Paired Strangers for Video Chats, Is Dead

The owner of the site took it offline as of Wednesday, and wrote a long message to users alluding to "attacks" against the site.
'Couldn't See Anymore:' Bored Ape Conference Attendees Wake Up With Searing Eye Pain, Vision Loss
Crypto

'Couldn't See Anymore:' Bored Ape Conference Attendees Wake Up With Searing Eye Pain, Vision Loss

“Been to lots of concerts, festivals, Burning Man, and never have I ever experienced fucked eyes like this.” 
Behind the Blog: Adblock Wars, Livestreaming Trauma, and Deepfake Bella Hadid
Behind The Blog

Behind the Blog: Adblock Wars, Livestreaming Trauma, and Deepfake Bella Hadid

This week, we discuss why FOIA about surveillance is so important, more misinfo around Israel-Palestine, adblockers, and a controversial livestream.
A Viral Deepfake Made It Look Like Bella Hadid Said She ‘Stands With Israel’
AI

A Viral Deepfake Made It Look Like Bella Hadid Said She ‘Stands With Israel’

An AI-generated fake of Hadid, who recently wrote that leaders should "ensure that innocent Palestinian civilians are not the forgotten casualties of this war," went viral on social media for literally putting words in her mouth.
Instagram Is Hiding Its 'Palestinian Terrorists' Translation Problem Inside a Black Box
AI

Instagram Is Hiding Its 'Palestinian Terrorists' Translation Problem Inside a Black Box

While we still don't know for sure what happened, researchers are looking at ways faulty AI models could have caused Instagram to auto-translate Arabic text into calling Palestinians “terrorists.”
Riley Reid on AI: ‘I Don’t Want Porn to Get Left Behind’
AI

Riley Reid on AI: ‘I Don’t Want Porn to Get Left Behind’

Riley Reid talks about creating her virtual self with Clona.ai, and how compassion and consent play a role in AI's future.
Behind the Blog: Drones, Journalism and Disinformation
Behind The Blog

Behind the Blog: Drones, Journalism and Disinformation

This week, we discuss Jason's entry into journalism via drones and Emanuel and Sam's thoughts on the state of social media and disinformation today.
Instagram ‘Sincerely Apologizes’ For Inserting ‘Terrorist’ Into Palestinian Bio Translations
News

Instagram ‘Sincerely Apologizes’ For Inserting ‘Terrorist’ Into Palestinian Bio Translations

The "see translation" feature for user bios was auto-translating phrases that included "Palestinian" and “alhamdulillah” into "Praise be to god, Palestinian terrorists are fighting for their freedom."
Fake Reports That Pornhub Is Giving Mia Khalifa's Money to Israel Are Going Viral
News

Fake Reports That Pornhub Is Giving Mia Khalifa's Money to Israel Are Going Viral

Made to look like MSNBC news reports, false claims about the former adult performer are spreading, despite being blatant misinformation.