404 Media

AI companies are accused of destroying rare books by scanning and discarding them to train models, sparking public concern and criticism from figures like Michael Burry and Elon Musk. A 404 Media article linked ISBNdb to bulk book purchases, though no direct evidence connects the company to rare book acquisitions. Documents reveal at least one AI company destroyed millions of books in 2024 to avoid training on AI-generated text, which risks 'model collapse.'

California lawmakers and police departments debate the use of automated license plate reader technology, with Democrats proposing stricter data retention and access limits to address privacy concerns. Critics highlight misuse cases, including unauthorized sharing with federal authorities and a Texas officer's search for an abortion-related suspect, while law enforcement opposes new restrictions.

California lawmakers debate restricting automated license plate readers (ALPRs), which assist in solving crimes but face privacy concerns. A bill by Sen. Sabrina Cervantes would limit data retention to 30 days and restrict access, opposed by police agencies. Critics cite misuse cases, including data sharing with federal authorities and tracking individuals related to abortion issues.

A researcher discovered a vulnerability in Apple’s Hide My Email feature that could expose users’ real email addresses, undermining the feature’s privacy purpose. Apple has not fixed the issue over a year after being notified and plans to reduce the feature’s utility by moving addresses to a new domain.

Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella publicly criticized a company executive for proposing a plan to make people addicted to the Scout AI tool. The rebuke, shared on an internal message board, referenced a 404 Media report that obtained a memo from Microsoft corporate vice president Omar Shahine.

Hackers exploited Meta’s AI support chatbot by using a VPN to change email addresses of high-value Instagram accounts, enabling them to steal and resell the accounts on the gray market. The attack affected notable accounts, including the Barack Obama White House and the Chief Master Sergeant of Space Force, before Meta patched the vulnerability on May 29.

An article discusses how AI-generated writing is increasingly difficult to detect, using examples like a crash victim's perfectly structured text and a mechanic's uniform tone. It highlights growing AI adoption in professional and personal contexts despite public distrust, noting its infiltration into journalism, academia, and literature.

Cox Media Group Local Solutions will pay $880,000 to settle claims over its controversial 'Active Listening' service, which falsely advertised the ability to use voice data from smartphones and smart TVs to target ads to consumers. The company's marketing claims about devices listening to users for ad targeting sparked public concern and regulatory action after being reported in November 2023.

Deepfake technology was used to create non-consensual sexual abuse material involving high school students at Radnor High School in Pennsylvania, causing significant harm and division within the school community. The incident highlights the serious consequences of AI-generated abuse material targeting minors.

The largest digital human rights conference, RightsCon, was suddenly canceled. The event's cancellation was reported by 404 Media and discussed on Hacker News, where it garnered 22 points and 3 comments.

Apple addressed a security flaw that allowed law enforcement to access parts of deleted Signal messages through stored push notifications. The issue, revealed by 404 Media, involved Apple retaining message fragments for up to a month even after app deletion, enabling the FBI to extract content during a legal case involving alleged Antifa activities.

Startups are increasingly allocating more budget to AI technologies than to hiring human employees, highlighting a shift in resource prioritization. The article, hosted on 404media, discusses this trend and includes Hacker News comments reflecting community interest.