Behind The Blog
Behind the Blog: Sinkholes and Site Seizures
This week, we discuss a ransomware gang, book bans, and infrastructure.
News
Trump Take LEGO
The popular Pick a Brick service let LEGO fanatics get the exact piece they wanted. It’s no longer available to US customers.
Podcast
Podcast: 404 Media Live—NYC!
Here's the podcast recorded at our recent second anniversary party in New York!
Tariffs
Trump Tariffs Cause Chaos on Ebay as Every Hobby Becomes Logistical Minefield
Buying cameras, retro games, board games, skincare, flashlights, sex toys, watches, and anything else from overseas just became far more complicated, slow, and expensive.
News
Imgur's Community Is In Full Revolt Against Its Owner
The front page of the image hosting website is full of John Oliver giving the owner the middle finger.
Echelon
Developer Unlocks Newly Enshittified Echelon Exercise Bikes But Can't Legally Release His Software
A firmware update broke a series of popular third-party exercise apps. A developer fixed it, winning a $20,000 bounty from Louis Rossmann.
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?”
News
4chan and Kiwi Farms Sue the UK Over its Age Verification Law
The notorious troll sites filed a lawsuit in U.S. federal court as part of a fight over the UK's Online Safety Act.
The Abstract
Scientists Make Breakthrough in Solving the Mystery of Life’s Origin
For years, researchers have puzzled over how two ingredients for life first linked up on early Earth. Now, they’ve found the “missing link,” and demonstrated this reaction in the lab.
News
Flock Wants to Partner With Consumer Dashcam Company That Takes ‘Trillions of Images’ a Month
That dashcam in your car could soon integrate with Flock, the surveillance company providing license plate data to DHS and local police.
Podcast
Podcast: The Underground Trade of Car Hacking Tech
The Flipper Zero is being modified to break into cars; the wave of 80s nostalgia AI slop; and how the Citizen app is using AI to write crime alerts.
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.
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.”