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
72 snips
Feb 18, 2026 • 1h
Inside an AI-Powered School
A leaked investigation into an AI-driven private school reveals surveillance, scraped curricula, and flawed AI lesson plans. A separate report covers mass AI nudification used to create a fake OnlyFans and the harassment that follows. There is also a look at law enforcement buying an AI tool that geolocates photos in seconds.
49 snips
Feb 16, 2026 • 50min
What It’s Like to Be a Data Labeler Training AI
Michael Geoffrey Asia, Secretary General of the Data Labelers Association and former data labeler who now fights for better pay and mental-health support. He describes Kenya’s massive labeling industry, brutal pay and quotas, and the trauma of tagging violent and intimate content. He also discusses organizing workers, demanding fair wages, and pushing for legal protections and accountability.
50 snips
Feb 11, 2026 • 50min
Ring Is Back and Scarier Than Ever
They explain how a tiny-market Super Bowl ad was bought for $2,550 and the fast production behind it. They dig into Ring’s new Search Party feature and how AI turns neighborhood cameras into proactive search tools. They trace Ring’s shift from viral-friendly clips back toward police partnerships and discuss familiar faces, default settings, and privacy tradeoffs.
83 snips
Feb 9, 2026 • 1h 26min
The Screen Time Panic Sets Parents Up to Fail
Patrick Klepek, longtime games reporter and cofounder of Remap who writes the Crossplay newsletter about parenting and games. He talks about raising kids around Roblox and YouTube. He discusses practical screen rules, why content beats minutes, parent tech tools, in‑game monetization, and balancing supervision with trust in real‑world parenting.
63 snips
Feb 4, 2026 • 55min
The Latest Epstein Dump is a Disaster
Matthew, an investigative journalist who uncovered AI platform flaws, walks through MaltBot/OpenClaw and Moltbook. He explains how these agentic AIs became popular. He recounts serious security failures, exposed databases, and how researchers demonstrated hijacks. Short, urgent talks about supply-chain risks, XSS and API key leaks.
77 snips
Feb 2, 2026 • 50min
How Identity Literally Changes What You See (with Samuel Bagg)
Samuel Bagg, assistant professor of political science who studies social identity and democratic theory, explains how group belonging shapes what people notice and trust. He reviews experiments showing minimal cues change perception. They discuss which institutions curb bias, why facts alone fail, and the ethics and designs for building healthier collective identities.
24 snips
Jan 28, 2026 • 50min
Creators Worry Porn Platform Is Falling Into ‘AI Psychosis’
Creators alarmed as a porn platform's leadership pivots into strange AI-flavored spiritual messaging. Conversations about creators weighing whether to stay when trust and income are at risk. Reporting on missing ICE surveillance footage and shifting government explanations. Brief mention of police told to be vague about AI camera uses.
69 snips
Jan 26, 2026 • 52min
Exposing the People Behind Deepfake Porn Sites with Bellingcat Investigator Kolina Koltai
Kolina Koltai, Bellingcat investigator who tracks the people and systems behind non-consensual deepfake porn. She recounts tracing operators using OSINT and payment forensics. She reveals how sites were linked to specific individuals and what happens when those services are taken offline. Discussion covers scale, profits, and the need for legal and financial pressure to curb harm.
129 snips
Jan 21, 2026 • 45min
Here’s What Palantir Is Really Building
One intriguing topic explored is Palantir's ELITE tool, which assists ICE in identifying neighborhoods for raids through comprehensive data mapping. The discussion shifts to the rise of AI influencers making scandalous fake images of celebrities, stirring controversy in the digital space. The hosts also delve into the legal implications and potential responses from celebrities like LeBron James as they grapple with defamation in this new era of AI content creation. Additionally, Comic-Con's recent ban on AI art reflects a growing pushback against artificial creations.
49 snips
Jan 19, 2026 • 55min
How Wikipedia Will Survive in the Age of AI (With Wikipedia’s CTO Selena Deckelmann)
Selena Deckelmann, the Chief Product and Technology Officer at the Wikimedia Foundation, discusses her pivotal role in maintaining Wikipedia's integrity amid the AI revolution. She highlights the importance of the edit button, which empowers volunteer collaboration and ensures article quality. Selena examines Wikipedia's unique governance model and its battle against AI-generated misinformation. She also addresses the impact of chatbots on traffic and the dynamic between AI firms and the platform. Ultimately, she envisions a model that could inspire the broader web.
