Behind The Blog
Behind the Blog: The Promise of the Internet
This week, we discuss mobile podcasting, participating in the meme, and vertigo.
patreon
Patreon Blocks Crawlers From Stealing Creators' Work for AI Training
“Creators deserve credit, compensation, and consent. If that's not on the table, the crawlers can stay the fuck off Patreon," CEO Jack Conte wrote on Thursday.
porn
Porn Platform Gives Sex Workers Stake in the Company's Profits
One of the co-founders of MintStars, a subscription site used by adult content creators, announced she's giving her entire stake in the company to a pool for the platform's creators and to the nonprofit SWOP Behind Bars.
waymo
Cops Say Waymo Snitched on Teens for Allegedly Drinking and Shooting a Toy Gun
The San Mateo Police Department posted on Facebook: “Parents do you know where your teens are? Waymo does!"
Behind The Blog
Behind the Blog: With Blogs Like These, Who Needs a Private Jet
This week, we discuss the Supreme Court, the private jet, and AI on the TV.
Meta
I Have Thoughts About That Kylie Jenner Meta Glasses Ad
Meta's new Starfire AI glasses, made in partnership with Kylie Jenner, are giving me the creeps.
Behind The Blog
Behind the Blog: Salesforce Beach
This week, we discuss talking aloud to computers, Cannes, and “Engineering Creativity: Guac Is Extra."
Privacy
The Trump Administration’s New Census Data Rules Are a Policy Disaster
The new policy, which forbids "noise infusion" as a technique for anonymizing data, will "handcuff" the Census Bureau and limit what information becomes public, data experts say.
Behind The Blog
Behind the Blog: Landfillcore and Go Knicks
This week, we discuss questionable analysis, mysterious parcels, and the Knicks (sorta).
Podcast
The OPSEC Rave Wave (with Imani Thompson)
We get into how platforms have tried to make surveillance cute, why that damn Duolingo owl emotionally manipulates you, and why learning about privacy best practices when surrounded by community works.
Behind The Blog
Behind the Blog: World Cup Madness and Film Reviews
This week, we discuss Trump fucking up the World Cup, some thoughts on ICE coverage, and movies.
chatbots
Chatbots Keep Telling Stories About Lighthouse Keeper 'Elias Thorne'. We Might Know Why
LLMs including ChatGPT, Gemini and Claude are obsessed with telling stories about lighthouse keepers and clockmakers, and one character named 'Elias Thorne' has made his way from chatbots to Amazon books. Researchers are trying to discover why.