Behind The Blog
Behind the Blog: Company Comments and a Party Recap
This week, we discuss companies' responses to being monitored by an ICE contractor, caring about the little things, weight loss drug ads, and how our SXSW shindig went.
News
Secret Service Admits It Didn’t Check if People Really Consented to Being Tracked
Emails viewed by 404 Media show that the Secret Service did not verify that location data it was tracking people with was actually collected with consent, despite saying so.
The Abstract
The Year in Abstracts: Obese Genomes and Banana Galaxies
We’re eating Suns and chillin’ in Moon caves for the last Abstract of 2024.
AI
AI-Generated Book Grifters Threaten The Future of Lace-Making
“Unfortunately, for newcomers who might be excited to dive into this hobby, they could get burned by the inadequate books—and frankly the thievery—of the work of our cherished lacemakers and designers."
Podcast
Podcast: Why We Cover AI the Way We Do
Here's a holiday gift: an episode that was previously only available to paying subscribers. Make sure to sign up for tons more bonus content like this.
christmas
Nothing Is Sacred: AI Generated Slop Has Come for Christmas Music
AI-generated Christmas classics that dwell in the uncanny valley are giving listeners the creeps.
Court Watch
Tipster Arrested After Feds Find AI Child Exploit Images and Plans to Make VR CSAM
A review of a tipster's phone revealed 'real' CSAM mixed in with AI CSAM, and a darker involvement in the case.
News
Government to Name ‘Key Witness’ Who Provided FBI With Backdoored Encrypted Chat App Anom
A lawyer has pushed to learn the identity of the person who first created Anom, which the FBI used to read tens of millions of messages sent by organized criminals. The confidential human source may testify in court, too.
The Abstract
Disney Princesses Are at Risk of Rabies and Fatal Maulings
This week, the creature from the Pangean lagoon, casket shopping for Disney princesses, a horror show in ancient Somerset, and “Martifacts.”
Behind The Blog
Behind the Blog: Posting Through It
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 our top games of the year, air traffic control, and posting through it.
News
APpaREnTLy THiS iS hoW yoU JaIlBreAk AI
Anthropic created an AI jailbreaking algorithm that keeps tweaking prompts until it gets a harmful response.
Luigi Mangione
Copyright Abuse Is Getting Luigi Mangione Merch Removed From the Internet
Artists, merch sellers, and journalists making and posting Luigi media have become the targets of bogus DMCA claims.
News
“We Are Getting Lasered”: Nearly a Dozen Planes Lasered Last Night During New Jersey Drone Panic
Air traffic control audio reviewed by 404 Media shows 11 aircraft near New Jersey reporting people shining lasers at them during the ongoing drone panic.