Behind The Blog
Behind the Blog: Marathon and the Metaverse
This week, we discuss unfortunately checking Twitter for news, the closure of the metaverse, and being vulnerable in Marathon.
Behind The Blog
Behind the Blog: Lighting Money on Fire and the Meaning of Vetting
This week, we discuss an exciting revamp of The Abstract, tech betrayals, and the "it's for cops" defense.
FOIA
A Texas Cop Searched License Plate Cameras Nationwide for a Woman Who Got an Abortion
The sheriff said the woman self-administered the abortion and her family were concerned for her safety, so authorities searched through Flock cameras. Experts are still concerned that a cop in a state where abortion is illegal can search cameras in others where it's a human right.
News
No One Knows How to Deal With 'Student-on-Student' AI CSAM
A new report from Stanford finds that schools, parents, police, and our legal system are not prepared to deal with the growing problem of minors using AI to generate CSAM of other minors.
News
Developer Builds Tool That Scrapes YouTube Comments, Uses AI to Predict Where Users Live
The developer claims the tool is for cops, but anyone can sign up and use it for targeted harassment.
texas
Texas Solicitor General Resigned After Fantasizing Colleague Would Get 'Anally Raped By a Cylindrical Asteroid'
Judd Stone resigned after admitting to the statements, a letter circulated at the Texas Attorney General's office states.
Features
Inside the Discord Community Developing Its Own Hair Loss Drugs
HairDAO is a “decentralized autonomous organization” trying to cure hair loss.
Podcast
Podcast: ICE's 'Backdoor' Into a Nationwide AI Surveillance Network
How ICE is accessing data from Flock cameras; a new invasive surveillance product; and the radical changes made at AI platform Civitai.
News
Civitai Ban of Real People Content Deals Major Blow to the Nonconsensual AI Porn Ecosystem
Citing pressure from payment processors and new legislation, a critical resource for producing nonconsensual content bans AI models depicting the likeness of real people.
FOIA
ICE Taps into Nationwide AI-Enabled Camera Network, Data Shows
Flock's automatic license plate reader (ALPR) cameras are in more than 5,000 communities around the U.S. Local police are doing lookups in the nationwide system for ICE.
News
The CIA Secretly Ran a Star Wars Fan Site
The site, starwarsweb.net, was a covert CIA communications tool. It has pictures of Yoda and C-3PO on it.
The Abstract
Penguin Poop Helps Antarctica Stay Cool
Penguin guano helps clouds form in coastal Antarctica, making these birds an important factor in the region’s climate.
Behind The Blog
Behind the Blog: Feeling Wowed, Getting Cozy
This week, we discuss the benefits of spending 14 hours a day on the internet, getting cozy for AI slop, and a what a new law in Sweden means for the rest of us.
