404 Media 🕸️

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 talk more about magic links and building shelves offline. A light Behind the Blog today but we're back from the holiday on Monday.

Surveillance capabilities used and justified by extreme circumstances often trickle down to be used on lesser crimes.

Scotty Allen reverse-engineered the interior case of an iPhone and has released the files to people wanting to make their own.

As of today, three more states join the list of 17 that can't access Pornhub because of age verification laws.

We talk about the last year when it comes to AI, journalism, and more.

Some people don't love our magic link logins. But the best way for us to protect your password is to never ask for it.

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.

We’re eating Suns and chillin’ in Moon caves for the last Abstract of 2024.

“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."

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.

AI-generated Christmas classics that dwell in the uncanny valley are giving listeners the creeps.

A review of a tipster's phone revealed 'real' CSAM mixed in with AI CSAM, and a darker involvement in the case.

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.

This week, the creature from the Pangean lagoon, casket shopping for Disney princesses, a horror show in ancient Somerset, and “Martifacts.”

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.

Anthropic created an AI jailbreaking algorithm that keeps tweaking prompts until it gets a harmful response.

Artists, merch sellers, and journalists making and posting Luigi media have become the targets of bogus DMCA claims.

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.

To political grifters boosting their profiles, government inaction is unacceptable, and government action cannot be trusted. There is no acceptable explanation.

What is probably happening with all those drone sightings; Cellebrite used as a doorway to malware; and an art project and a cease and desist.