ICE
Inside a Powerful Database ICE Uses to Identify and Deport People
The database allows filtering according to hundreds of different categories, including visa status, “unique physical characteristics (e.g. scars, marks, tattoos),” “criminal affiliation,” license plate reader data, and more.
Podcast
Podcast: A Whirlwind Tour of DEF CON
Joseph went to DEF CON to talk to hackers on location. AI, hacking biology, and community all came up.
Behind The Blog
Behind the Blog: Skipping Meetings and Calming Nerves
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 running 404 Media for a whole year, public speaking, and meetings.
Announcements
What We Learned In Our First Year of 404 Media
In August 2023, we launched 404 Media with a novel idea: pay journalists to do journalism. Here we are, a year later.
News
US Feds Are Tapping a Half-Billion Encrypted Messaging Goldmine
European cops hacked the encrypted phone provider Sky in 2021. More and more cases in the U.S. are using that mass of collected messages.
Ticketmaster
Ticketmaster Used Revolving Barcodes to Control Ticket Resale Market and Surveil Customers, DOJ Alleges
"We now not only know the person that bought the ticket, but we’re going to know those three people that you are taking to the show, which we have not known historically."
Podcast
Podcast: How Taylor Swift Could Sue Trump for AI Images
We break down how Taylor Swift could sue Donald Trump for a fake, AI-generated endorsement of the presidential candidate; how the U.S. is tapping an intelligence goldmine of encrypted chats; and how we approach generating impact with our journalism.
copyright
Shein Is Suing Temu For Copyright Infringement
Shein, notorious for being accused of copyright infringement by small artists and big brands alike, is suing its competitor Temu for... copyright infringement.
AI
Swift Could Sue Trump Under State Law for Fake AI Endorsement
Donald Trump accepted fake endorsements from AI-generated versions of Taylor Swift and her fans. Under a recently-enacted Tennessee law, the AI-generated images could be illegal.
Features
The Golden Age of Hackers in Vegas Is Over
After ransomware struck the strip, Vegas is more cautious and paranoid about hackers than ever, with businesses and casinos sending a clear message: hackers are not welcome here.
nvidia
Nvidia Sued for Scraping YouTube After 404 Media Investigation
David Millette, a YouTube creator, filed a class action lawsuit against Nvidia citing “unjust enrichment and unfair competition” for how the company built its training data for the “Cosmos” project video model.
Behind The Blog
Behind the Blog: Lost in Translation
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 LLMs and languages, and a big data breach.
News
FlightAware Exposed Pilots’ and Users’ Info
The popular flight tracking website informed users that it inadvertently exposed user data, including names, physical addresses, aircraft owned, pilot status, and flights tracked.