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.
432 posts
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?” 
ChatGPT Encouraged Suicidal Teen Not To Seek Help, Lawsuit Claims
ChatGPT

ChatGPT Encouraged Suicidal Teen Not To Seek Help, Lawsuit Claims

As reported by the New York Times, a new complaint from the parents of a teen who died by suicide outlines the conversations he had with the chatbot in the months leading up to his death.
Attorneys General To AI Chatbot Companies: You Will ‘Answer For It’ If You Harm Children
chatbots

Attorneys General To AI Chatbot Companies: You Will ‘Answer For It’ If You Harm Children

Forty-four attorneys general signed an open letter on Monday that says to companies developing AI chatbots: "If you knowingly harm kids, you will answer for it.”
404 Media at Two Years: How We've Grown, and What's Next
404 Media

404 Media at Two Years: How We've Grown, and What's Next

We're reflecting on the impact our journalism had in year two, how we've grown with your support, and what we aspire to accomplish in year three.