Behind The Blog
Behind the Blog: Personality Tests, First Jobs, and ‘Profitability’
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 about our first jobs, personality tests, and what it means to be "profitable."
China
Leaked Emails Show Hugo Awards Self-Censoring to Appease China
“...if the work focuses on China, taiwan, tibet, or other topics that may be an issue *in* China...that needs to be highlighted so that we can determine if it is safe to put it on the ballot," one email said.
lawsuits
Woman Sues Sex Toy Retailer Adam and Eve, Claims It Shared Data About Her Dildos
Sex toy retailer Adam and Eve is being accused of violating an invasion of privacy law, with its accuser claiming that it told Google she was looking at listings for “Kingcock Strap-on Harness With 8-Inch Dildo” and showed that she added a “Pink Jelly Slim Dildo” to her cart.
Behind The Blog
Behind the Blog: Not Safe for Whose Work?
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 about looking at NSFW stuff in offices and Indonesian cafes and adding KYC to your KYC.
payment processors
Stripe Cuts Off Platform Used by Dominatrixes
Stripe gets even more anti-sex by kicking off wishlist platform Wishtender, while AI porn sites, which are also against the payment processor's rules, are still using it.
AI
‘DignifAI:’ 4chan Is Editing Pictures to Clothe Women
The inverse of "nudifying" apps, people are putting clothing on women they deem "undignified."
Behind The Blog
Behind the Blog: Social Media's ‘IDGAF Era’ and Weather Clout Chasers
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 social media companies being in their “IDGAF Era" and a viral thread about California's ARkStorm.
AI
The Taylor Swift Deepfakes Disaster Threatens to Change the Internet As We Know It
Deepfakes and AI-generated nonconsensual sexual imagery have been a problem for a long time. But with the resurgence of attention on them, we're facing a reckoning.
Man Who Sued 'Are We Dating the Same Guy?' Groups Files Class Action Lawsuit
Nikko D'Ambrosio of Illinois had his first case dismissed, and refiled as a class action that seeks other guys who feel harmed by "red flags or tea?" dating groups.
Behind The Blog
Behind the Blog: AI-Generated Harm and Our Journalism Business
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 AI-generated non-consensual images that went viral of Taylor Swift, why we need your email address, and the state of journalism.
Announcements
We Need Your Email Address
AI stealing our work. The collapse of social networks. The need to pay journalists to produce impactful journalism. Here is why we are asking for your email address to read 404 Media.
News
AI-Generated Taylor Swift Porn Went Viral on Twitter. Here's How It Got There
404 Media traced back the viral and abusive images of Taylor Swift to a specific Telegram community. That group sometimes uses Microsoft's AI tools.