Behind The Blog
Behind the Blog: Ray-Bans Are No Longer Cool or Timeless
This week, we discuss keeping FOIA reporting in front of a paywall, Ray-Bans, and what pregnate Schoolhouse Rock bills say about our current AI-driven hellscape.
The Abstract
One of the Universe’s Biggest Mysteries Has Been Solved, Scientists Say
Scientists have spotted the universe’s “missing matter” hiding in a vast cosmic web with some help from fast radio bursts from deep space.
Cameras
40,000 Cameras, From Bird Feeders to Baby Monitors, Exposed to the Internet
Tens of thousands of security cameras in businesses, CCTV cameras, and cameras from commonplace internet-connected devices were found vulnerable to dark web actors, a new report shows.
News
The AI Slop Fight Between Iran and Israel
There’s a lack of footage from the conflict and AI-generated content is filling the void.
Podcast
Podcast: Airlines Sold Your Flight Data to DHS—And Covered It Up
Airlines selling detailed flight data to DHS; how AI scrapers are hammering open archives; and the casual surveillance relationship between ICE and local cops.
FOIA
California Cops Investigate ‘Immigration Protest’ With AI-Camera System
New data obtained by 404 Media also shows California cops are illegally sharing Flock automatic license plate reader (ALPR) data with other agencies out of state, who in turn are performing searches for ICE.
AI
Meta Invents New Way to Humiliate Users With Feed of People's Chats With AI
In an industry full of grifters and companies hell-bent on making the internet worse, it is hard to think of a worse actor than Meta, or a worse product that the AI Discover feed.
News
The People Search Sites in the Suspected Minnesota Killer's Notebook Are a Failure of Congress
The list of sites in the suspect's notebook, which can easily reveal where someone lives, are a simple Google search away, have been for years, and lawmakers could make changes if they wanted. They have before.
News
AI Scraping Bots Are Breaking Open Libraries, Archives, and Museums
"This is a moment where that community feels collectively under threat and isn't sure what the process is for solving the problem.”
News
I Tried Pre-Ordering the Trump Phone. The Page Failed and It Charged My Credit Card the Wrong Amount
I got a confirmation email saying I'll get another confirmation when it's shipped. But I haven't provided a shipping address.
politics
RNC Sued Over WinRed's Constant 'ALL HELL JUST BROKE LOOSE!' Fundraising Texts
The RNC and other Republican groups are violating Utah telecommunications law by continuing to text people incessantly after they've asked them to stop, a new complaint alleges.
FOIA
Emails Reveal the Casual Surveillance Alliance Between ICE and Local Police
Police departments in Oregon created an "analyst group" where they casually offer each other assistance with surveillance tools.
Meta
Meta Users Feel Less Safe Since It Weakened ‘Hateful Conduct’ Policy, Survey Finds
A survey of 7,000 active users on Instagram, Facebook and Threads shows people feel grossed out and unsafe since Mark Zuckerberg's decision to scale back moderation after Trump's election.