FOIA
DHS Is Deploying a Powerful Surveillance Tool at College Football Games
Public records show DHS is deploying the "Homeland Security Information Network" at college protests and football games.
Security
Do Spencer’s Vibrators Have Malware on Them? An Investigation
We tested the vibrator that a Spencer's customer claims almost gave their computer malware.
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.
News
‘What Was She Supposed to Report?:’ Police Report Shows How a High School Deepfake Nightmare Unfolded
An in-depth police report obtained by 404 Media shows how a school, and then the police, investigated a wave of AI-powered “nudify” apps in a high school.
News
University of Michigan Sells Recordings of Study Groups and Office Hours to Train AI
The data is being offered for tens of thousands of dollars to outside third-parties. It is unclear if the speakers provided informed consent.
FOIA
What Is the Governor of Iowa Hiding About a Satanic Temple Statue at the Capitol?
Kim Reynolds redacts 27 pages of public documents about the government's response to a Baphomet display at the Iowa Capitol.
Podcast
Podcast: An Open Source Search Engine to Replace Google
This week we chat about an annoying recruitment tool, a new open source search engine, and how a botnet of toothbrushes wasn't real.
News
Service Jobs Now Require Bizarre Personality Test From AI Company
Paradox.ai, which is used by some of the biggest employers in the country, requires applicants to respond to dozens of confusing slides featuring a blue alien named Ash.
FOIA
Broker That Sold Abortion Clinic Data Contracted with Air Force for ‘Targeting’
New documents show that SafeGraph, a company that previously sold location related to abortion clinics, was contracted to explicitly help the Air Force with “targeting” in “contested geographies.”
Mastodon
Taliban Shuts Down 'queer.af' Domain, Breaking Mastodon Instance
After years in limbo, the Taliban recently began reoperating Afghanistan's .af TLD, which is breaking parts of the internet.
News
Microsoft’s AI Will Delete Its Own Answers Before Your Eyes
Copilot knows what a ‘badonkadonk’ is, but will delete its answer after telling you.
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.