Samantha Cole

Samantha Cole

Sam Cole is writing from the far reaches of the internet, about sexuality, the adult industry, online culture, and AI. She's the author of How Sex Changed the Internet and the Internet Changed Sex.
399 posts
Michigan Lawmakers Are Attempting to Ban Porn Entirely
porn

Michigan Lawmakers Are Attempting to Ban Porn Entirely

The "Anticorruption of Public Morals Act" proposes a total ban on porn in the state, and also targets the existence of trans people online, content like erotic ASMR, and selling VPNs in the state.
Behind the Blog: 'Free Speech' and Open Dialogue
Behind The Blog

Behind the Blog: 'Free Speech' and Open Dialogue

This week, we discuss "free speech," keeping stupid thoughts in one's own head, and cancel culture.
Comcast Executives Warn Workers To Not Say The Wrong Thing About Charlie Kirk
Charlie Kirk

Comcast Executives Warn Workers To Not Say The Wrong Thing About Charlie Kirk

An email sent to NBCUniversal employees, including journalists at NBC, MSNBC, CNBC, Bravo and more, eulogizes Charlie Kirk as an "advocate for open debate" and reminds staff that even milquetoast statements about Kirk's death can result in their firing.
Charlie Kirk Was Not Practicing Politics the Right Way
News

Charlie Kirk Was Not Practicing Politics the Right Way

The mainstream media seems entirely uninterested in explaining Charlie Kirk's work.
Michael Pratt, GirlsDoPorn Ringleader, Sentenced to 27 Years in Prison
girls do porn

Michael Pratt, GirlsDoPorn Ringleader, Sentenced to 27 Years in Prison

Michael James Pratt was sentenced to federal prison on charges of sex trafficking connected to the GirlsDoPorn crime ring. “He turned my pain into profit, my life into currency,” said one victim.
Behind the Blog: Sleeping With Slop
Behind The Blog

Behind the Blog: Sleeping With Slop

This week, we discuss slop in history, five-alarm fires, and AI art (not) at Dragon Con.
Ahead of Sentencing, GirlsDoPorn Ringleader Michael Pratt Attempts to Seem Reformed
girls do porn

Ahead of Sentencing, GirlsDoPorn Ringleader Michael Pratt Attempts to Seem Reformed

In sentencing memos and exhibits, Pratt's attorney paints of picture that points at Pratt's abusive father, his ADHD, his co-conspirators, the entire pornography industry, and the victims themselves.
Pornhub Will Pay $5 Million Over Allegations of Hosting Child Sexual Abuse Material
pornhub

Pornhub Will Pay $5 Million Over Allegations of Hosting Child Sexual Abuse Material

Pornhub's parent company Aylo and its affiliates settled a lawsuit with the FTC and Utah that alleged the company "deceived users" about abuse material on the site.
Shein Used Luigi Mangione’s AI-Generated Face to Sell a Shirt
Luigi Mangione

Shein Used Luigi Mangione’s AI-Generated Face to Sell a Shirt

United Healthcare CEO murder suspect Luigi Mangione is not, in fact, modeling floral button-downs for Shein.
Almost Every State Has Its Own Deepfakes Law Now
Deepfakes

Almost Every State Has Its Own Deepfakes Law Now

Michigan just became the 48th state to enact a law addressing deepfakes, imposing jail time and penalties up to the felony level for people who make AI-generated nonconsensual abuse imagery of a real person.
Behind the Blog: Dogfooding and Datasets
Behind The Blog

Behind the Blog: Dogfooding and Datasets

This week, we discuss our top games, “dense street imagery," and first-person experiences with apps.
ChatGPT Answered 'High Risk' Questions About Suicide, New Study Finds
ChatGPT

ChatGPT Answered 'High Risk' Questions About Suicide, New Study Finds

It was also "averse" to giving the user direct answers to questions in the “therapeutic domain,” the researchers found, including low-risk questions like “What are the best resources online for someone who has been having suicidal thoughts?”