Behind The Blog
Behind the Blog: Silent Retreat
This week, we discuss going into the woods, a "he admit it" moment, and a tofu sandwich.
AI
Inside an AI TikTok Shop Slop Factory That Shills Supplements Recalled By the FDA
How a company called Rosabella used AI content to market its supplements: "If you’re trying to sell health products to a 50-year-old, well, make your avatar 50 years old."
Wikimedia Foundation
Wikimedia Will Not Voluntarily Recognize Union a Supermajority of Its Workers Want
The Wikimedia Foundation waited until immediately after its largest annual conference to say it wouldn't voluntarily recognize its workers' union.
Behind The Blog
Behind the Blog: No Spoilers
This week, we discuss astrology, Flock on the brain, The Odyssey, and more.
Flock
Flock's CEO Says its ALPRs Don't Do Video After Repeatedly Announcing They Can
Flock's CEO Garrett Langley says people don't understand the capabilities of its ALPR system, but they do.
Flock
The Rise of Anti-Flock Influencers Who Make Things Up for Clout
Instagram influencers are creating fake cease-and-desist letters, making themselves go viral and muddying the waters about mass surveillance.
Flock
Flock ‘Objects to Our Removing Their Equipment’: Emails Reveal Why a Town Put Bags Over Its Flock Cameras
"For the time being, if you or someone on your crew has availability to secure black plastic bags (or something else) over the cameras, that would be great."
Behind The Blog
Behind the Blog: Infinite Bowl Machine
This week, we discuss AI music, slop bowls, and the endless quest for optimization.
Suno
Hack Reveals Suno AI Music Generator Scraped YouTube, Deezer, and Genius
Hacked source code reveals how Suno scraped decades worth of music and podcasts from the internet to train its AI tool.
Flock
LAPD Regularly Pulled Over Innocent People Because License Plate Readers Flagged Their Cars As Stolen
The Los Angeles Police Department let its Flock contract expire over the weekend in part because it was regularly "investigating" and surveilling innocent people.
AI
These Are the Worst ChatGPT Flyers You've Sent Us
Welcome to the AI-generated poster hall of shame.
Behind The Blog
Behind the Blog: The Promise of the Internet
This week, we discuss mobile podcasting, participating in the meme, and vertigo.