The 404 Media Podcast
Hosted by Emanuel Maiberg, Jason Koebler, Joseph Cox & Samantha Cole · 22 decoded episodes · newest Oct 7, 2026
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 22
- Sep 2, 2026 · 41 minAmazon’s book destruction exposes AI’s hidden supply chainThe episode connects the physical waste of AI training with a quieter threat: synthetic research entering scholarly databases and feeding future models.
- Aug 31, 2026 · 42 minCyber sleuths trace sextortion from online bait to NigeriaThe investigation shows how sextortion networks operate, why tracing them is dangerous, and where platforms and law enforcement can intervene.
- Aug 26, 2026 · 33 minA fake surveillance camera tests the limits of police stingsThe case exposes unresolved questions about property damage, public records, and how far police can go to defend surveillance systems.
- Aug 24, 2026 · 47 minAI companions offer comfort without reciprocityThe episode examines why people turn to chatbots for intimacy and grief support, while exposing the care gaps and data risks behind that appeal.
- Aug 19, 2026 · 53 minAmazon’s book pipeline raises hard questions for AIThe episode connects physical book destruction, legal manipulation, and platform surveillance to the unresolved costs of AI development.
- Aug 17, 2026 · 46 minDeepfakes expose the limits of online trustSynthetic media now enables fraud, reputational attacks, and non-consensual sexual imagery faster than individuals can reliably detect or contest it.
- Aug 12, 2026 · 48 minZuckerberg’s AI vision collides with human connectionThe episode tests whether ubiquitous AI will expand human agency or quietly replace the relationships and creative work that give life meaning.
- Aug 10, 2026 · 53 minCivilian cameras challenge police power and expanding surveillanceThe episode connects everyday cop watching to a broader surveillance ecosystem where automated errors can trigger serious police consequences.
- Aug 5, 2026 · 50 minPhone wiping and AI sales expose new digital gray zonesThe episode connects a novel privacy prosecution with automated health marketing, showing how law and oversight lag behind fast-moving technology.
- Aug 3, 2026 · 50 minFormer Flock insider details the company’s ICE pilotJonathan Paz’s account connects municipal surveillance sales to internal decision-making, immigration enforcement concerns, and the limits of corporate transparency.