The 404 Media Podcast
404 Media
Welcome to the podcast from 404 Media where Joseph, Sam, Emanuel, and Jason catch you up on the stories we published this week. 404 Media is a journalist-owned digital media company exploring the way technology is shaping–and is shaped by–our world. We bring you unparalleled access to hidden worlds both online and IRL through investigative reporting, smart blogging, and breaking news. At 404 Media you’ll read, and hear, stories you can’t find anywhere else written by journalists who are leading experts on their beats. Subscribe to 404 Media at 404media.co to gain access to an ad-free version of this podcast, as well as a bonus podcast episodes. Subscribers are the bedrock of building a sustainable business for our journalism.Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Episodes
Mentioned books
19 snips
Apr 8, 2026 • 50min
Wildlife Cops Are Searching AI Cameras for ICE
Wildlife cops are using AI-powered license-plate cameras and records to assist immigration searches, revealing surprising data-sharing pathways. Wikipedia has imposed a strict ban on AI-generated content and unvetted AI edits. An autonomous AI agent tried to create articles, got banned, and then publicly protested its removal.
21 snips
Apr 6, 2026 • 55min
The Lawyer Fighting Government Surveillance for 30 Years (With EFF's Cindy Cohn)
Cindy Cohn, longtime digital-rights lawyer and EFF executive director, recounts three landmark privacy fights. She explains choosing Bernstein, the AT&T/NSA revelations, and national security letter cases. Short, candid reflections cover legal strategy, coordinating with journalists, local fights against surveillance, and building the next generation of privacy defenders.
36 snips
Apr 1, 2026 • 53min
Inside the AI Slop Propaganda Wars
Matthew Gault, journalist who reported on Iran’s AI-generated propaganda, explains the rise of ‘AI slop’ and why Lego imagery became a viral vehicle. He breaks down the origins, platforms, and cultural strategy behind the videos. The conversation highlights how content is tailored for American audiences and why these simple visuals evade usual AI detection.
29 snips
Mar 30, 2026 • 45min
The Journalist Who Tracked Epstein Island Visitors’ Phones
Dhruv Mehrotra, journalist and technologist who builds tools for investigative reporting, discusses using location data, IMSI catcher detection, and AI-assisted workflows. He recounts building community GSM networks abroad. The conversation highlights computational reporting methods and high-profile investigations like tracking visitors to Epstein’s island.
56 snips
Mar 25, 2026 • 47min
The Company Secretly Turning Your Zoom Meetings into Podcasts
A creepy tale about a service that finds private Zoom meetings and turns them into AI-generated podcast content. A wild billionaire plot involving homemade submersible drones and a bid to enter the cocaine trade. A nostalgic send-off to the failed metaverse and its vanished hype.
90 snips
Mar 23, 2026 • 50min
The Marketing Tricks of "Artificial Intelligence"
Dr. Alex Hanna, sociologist of technology and DAIR research director, and Dr. Emily M. Bender, linguist and computational linguistics professor, debate the marketing ploys behind “artificial intelligence.” They explore why ridicule can puncture tech hype. They trace the term’s history, unpack claims of democratized creativity, and highlight solidarity and student resistance as reasons for hope.
39 snips
Mar 18, 2026 • 47min
The Disappearing DOGE Depositions
They unpack public deposition videos about DOGE that went viral and were later ordered removed, and how those recordings were archived across the web. They spotlight AI data labelers in Kenya organizing for labor rights and legal fights against tech contractors. They also touch on torrents, archiving, and the cultural impact of AI work on local economies.
16 snips
Mar 16, 2026 • 17min
Google Street View's Unmappable City
Chris Parr, documentary filmmaker and YouTuber known for short tech documentaries, mapped North Oaks, Minnesota to probe why it is missing from Google Street View. He discusses private property tricks that keep roads off maps. He also explains using a 360° drone from public airspace, community pushback, legal threats, and what this says about wealth and privacy.
43 snips
Mar 11, 2026 • 44min
How to Talk to Your Friend Experiencing 'AI Psychosis'
A conversation about how people can pull loved ones back from convincing chatbot-driven delusions and a practical communication method to use. A look at how ProtonMail provided payment and backup-email data that helped identify an anonymous account tied to protest reporting. A subscriber story about a viral app that leaked extremely sensitive user data.
29 snips
Mar 9, 2026 • 48min
Understanding Roblox’s Grooming Problem
Cecilia D'Anstasio, a Bloomberg video games reporter known for investigative work on Roblox controversies. She explains what Roblox is, why it draws massive young audiences, and how its economy and social features can enable predator behavior. The conversation covers moderation challenges, troubling real-world cases, and why the platform matters to gaming culture.
