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.
229 posts
GOP Candidate Claims Incest Arrangement Audio Is a ‘Deepfake’ Meant to Smear Him
Deepfakes

GOP Candidate Claims Incest Arrangement Audio Is a ‘Deepfake’ Meant to Smear Him

John Lee, a Trump-endorsed candidate for Congress, is suing his former opponent for defamation.
Behind the Blog: Cycles of Access and Sensitive Sourcing
Behind The Blog

Behind the Blog: Cycles of Access and Sensitive Sourcing

This is Behind the Blog, where we share our behind-the-scenes thoughts about how a few of our top stories of the week came together. This week, we discuss getting people to talk to us, and collapsing civilizations on the internet.
A Suspected Human Smuggler Used AirTags to Track and Control The Woman He Brought Into the U.S.
airtags

A Suspected Human Smuggler Used AirTags to Track and Control The Woman He Brought Into the U.S.

A man allegedly involved in a Russia-based smuggling operation is accused of placing at least seven AirTags on his ex-wife's car to surveil her.
Laws About Deepfakes Can’t Leave Sex Workers Behind
Deepfakes

Laws About Deepfakes Can’t Leave Sex Workers Behind

As lawmakers propose federal laws about preventing or regulating nonconsensual AI generated images, they can't forget that there are at least two people in every deepfake.
Behind the Blog: Google's Excuses and Facing Reality
Behind The Blog

Behind the Blog: Google's Excuses and Facing Reality

This is Behind the Blog, where we share our behind-the-scenes thoughts about how a few of our top stories of the week came together. This week, we discuss Google's excuses for its terrible AI product, clicking aimlessly around the internet, and encrypted criminal communications.
'Are We Dating the Same Guy' Guy Imprisoned for Tax Fraud
awdtsg

'Are We Dating the Same Guy' Guy Imprisoned for Tax Fraud

After suing 27 women and multiple platforms because people he'd dated warned others not to date him, he filed a class action lawsuit against them. Now, he's headed to federal prison.
Watch Man Park His Car On Zoom While Appearing Before a Judge For Suspended License Trial
Zoom

Watch Man Park His Car On Zoom While Appearing Before a Judge For Suspended License Trial

"Actually, I’m pulling into my doctor’s office, actually, so, just give me one second. I’m parking right now," the defendant said.
AI-Generated Child Sexual Abuse Material Is Not a ‘Victimless Crime’
AI

AI-Generated Child Sexual Abuse Material Is Not a ‘Victimless Crime’

The ability to produce infinite images powered by datasets containing millions of photographs of real people, including children, and real images of real CSAM, perpetuates abuse in a way that was previously impossible. 
Behind the Blog: Puzzle Pieces and Paying for Labor
Behind The Blog

Behind the Blog: Puzzle Pieces and Paying for Labor

This is Behind the Blog, where we share our behind-the-scenes thoughts about how a few of our top stories of the week came together. This week, we discuss how people find our articles, Nutella as thermal paste, and putting together the puzzle pieces.
FBI Arrests Man For Generating AI Child Sexual Abuse Imagery
AI

FBI Arrests Man For Generating AI Child Sexual Abuse Imagery

He allegedly used Stable Diffusion, a text-to-image generative AI model, to create “thousands of realistic images of prepubescent minors,” prosecutors said.
AI Chatbot Credited With Preventing Suicide. Should It Be?
AI

AI Chatbot Credited With Preventing Suicide. Should It Be?

A recent Stanford study found that some people credit Replika for saving their lives. But chatbots can be unpredictable, and users have also blamed the chatbot app for throwing them into mental crises.
Behind the Blog: Screwed-Up Telecoms and Tech Sermons
Behind The Blog

Behind the Blog: Screwed-Up Telecoms and Tech Sermons

This is Behind the Blog, where we share our behind-the-scenes thoughts about how a few of our top stories of the week came together. This week, we discuss screwed-up telecom systems, tech exec sermons, and TikTok trends.