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The 404 Media Podcast

404 Media
Artificial Intelligence
ICE
Privacy
Generative AI
Cybersecurity
Surveillance
Data Privacy
Flock
Reddit
Social Media
Encryption
Microsoft
Surveillance Technology
Google
Openai
Ai-Generated Content
4chan
Elon Musk
Meta
AI Technology

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... more

PublishesTwice weeklyEpisodes187Founded3 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
NewsTech NewsTechnology

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Artwork for The 404 Media Podcast

Latest Episodes

Sponsor: Take your personal data back with Incogni! Use code 404MEDIA at the link below and get 60% off an annual plan: incogni.com/404media

We start this week with Sam’s deeply reported story on how deepfakes rocked a high school, and how t... more

This week Joseph speaks to Zack Whittaker, an editor at TechCrunch. Zack has been leading coverage into the spouseware or stalkerware industry. This is malware sold to ordinary people, which they then often install on their girlfriend’s or someone el... more

We start this week with Sam telling us all about the commencement speeches where speakers have been praising AI, including former Google CEO Eric Schmidt. That did not go down well! After the break, Jason tells us how he was offered the chance to buy... more

This week, I’m delighted to be joined by Britt Paris. Britt is a critical informatics scholar and Associate Professor of Library and Information Science at Rutgers University’s School of Communication & Information. Her work focuses on Internet infra... more

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Recent Guests

Britt Paris
Critical informatics scholar and associate professor of Library and Information Science, Rutgers University
Rutgers University
Episode: The Physical Politics of the Internet with Britt Paris
Matthew Gault
Staff writer joining for the Yu-Gi-Oh card story
The 404 Media Podcast / 404 Media
Episode: The Chinese Deepfake Software Powering Scams
Natasha Schüll
Professor and anthropologist at New York University, author of Addiction by Design
New York University
Episode: How the World Became a Casino (With Natasha Schüll)
Brian Merchant
Author of Blood in the Machine; journalist and commentator on technology, labor, and surveillance
Blood in the Machine (book) / Blood in the Machine newsletter
Episode: The New Luddites: Why People Are Destroying Surveillance and AI Infrastructure
Lorenzo Franceschi-Bicchierai
Writer from TechCrunch; interviewed about zero-day markets and government spyware
TechCrunch
Episode: Government Hacking Tools Are Now in Criminals' Hands (with Lorenzo Franceschi-Bicchierai)
Maddy Myers
Editor in Chief of Mothership; co-host of Triple Click
Mothership
Episode: Why Journalists Are Leaving Big Media (with Maddy Myers)
Whitney Phillips
Author and professor of information politics and media ethics at the University of Oregon
University of Oregon
Episode: How the Internet Became Hell (with Whitney Phillips)
Cindy Cohn
Executive Director of the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF)
Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF)
Episode: The Lawyer Fighting Government Surveillance for 30 Years (With EFF's Cindy Cohn)
Dhruv Mehrotra
Data journalist and investigator at Bloomberg, former Wired contributor and Gizmodo writer
Bloomberg
Episode: The Journalist Who Tracked Epstein Island Visitors’ Phones

Host

Joseph
Host of the show; leads editorial direction and interviewing on tech, policy, and investigative reporting.

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 1.1k ratings
  • The only news podcast I listen to

    I appreciate this podcast because it’s refreshing to hear knowledgeable, level-headed folks talking about tech news and related topics without too much formality or meandering. The more recent interview episodes with knowledgeable expert guests are especially interesting and informative—and quite succinct compared to similar interview-style podcasts.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    rowdymouse
    United States12 days ago
  • incisive tours of media

    Not talky, even though it’s talk. The intelligent questions turn up. Weary of banter, this was a breath of fresh air.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    lanoush
    United States12 days ago
  • Tough listen

    I wanted to enjoy this, as the topics covered are genuinely very interesting, but the inability of several of the hosts to communicate without saying “like” every three or four words is incredibly irritating.

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    Eugene Fraxby
    United Kingdom14 days ago
  • Excellent program 🤩

    Thanks to the Aussie podcast Download This Show for mentioning 404 Media in their latest podcast. My first listen today and I’m hooked, what a great find!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    B⭐️B
    Australiaa month ago
  • One of my few "always listen" podcasts. Episodes always have a great range but at their heart they are always well researched, accessible, and relevant about how we can live in this tech enmeshed world.

    Podcast Addict
    5
    honor
    2 months ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Receives praise for breaking into under-covered issues with thoughtful analysis.
Independent, unbought journalism with deep dives into tech and policy.
Consistently high-quality reporting with credible guests and clear storytelling.
Strong on-context delivery and practical relevance, though some critique on editorial pacing.
Widely regarded as rigorous and essential for staying informed on tech impact.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#7
United States/News/Tech News
Apple Podcasts
#6
Canada/News/Tech News
Apple Podcasts
#19
United Kingdom/News/Tech News
Apple Podcasts
#10
Australia/News/Tech News
Apple Podcasts
#11
Germany/News/Tech News
Apple Podcasts
#15
Italy/News/Tech News

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

How the World Became a Casino (With Natasha Schüll)
Q: What is your take on how accessible prediction markets have become and what that might mean for regulation?
She notes that regulation may converge with broader gambling regulation as these markets become more prevalent; there is potential for legal action and suits as seen with mobile sports betting, suggesting that policymakers will eventually respond to harms and consumer protection concerns.
How the World Became a Casino (With Natasha Schüll)
Q: I want to start with that first part. Can you talk about how future markets and lay bidding were always intertwined?
Schüll explains that early stock-market activities were often framed as betting and governed by similar laws; prediction markets participate in a long history of betting-like behavior, and their regulation will likely mirror broader financial regulation as these tools grow more accessible.
The Chinese Deepfake Software Powering Scams
Q: What are the potential scams or risks discussed?
The tech enables sophisticated scams such as romance, investment, and impersonation schemes through real-time video deepfakes, expanding their reach and plausibility by reducing the need for technical expertise.
The Chinese Deepfake Software Powering Scams
Q: What was involved in actually obtaining and testing the software?
The process involved contacting the Haotian AI team via Telegram, confirming the requester has a powerful PC, exchanging hardware screenshots, joining a group chat, and finally remote-access installation to demonstrate live deepfakes.
The Chinese Deepfake Software Powering Scams
Q: What exactly is Haotian AI and what does it promise to do?
Haotian AI is a real-time facial deepfake software that can swap a user's face during live video calls on platforms like WhatsApp, Zoom, or Teams, essentially enabling real-time impersonation without requiring extensive footage, and it runs on a beefy PC with a remote installation process.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

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Frequently Asked Questions About The 404 Media Podcast

What is The 404 Media Podcast about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A brisk, investigative tech-news show that dissects how digital systems shape society, from surveillance, privacy, and security to AI ethics and online misinformation. Episodes center on in-depth reporting, original investigations, and interviews with researchers, journalists, and practitioners who illuminate hidden corners of the internet and technology's real-world impact. Notable strengths include rigorous, independent journalism, a track record of bringing underreported topics to light, and a willingness to critique powerful tech players and policies. Potential listeners who want sharp analysis, actionable context, and thoughtful guests across security, AI, and digital rights will likely find this engaging and authoritative.

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How many listeners does The 404 Media Podcast get?

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To see how many followers or subscribers The 404 Media Podcast has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to The 404 Media Podcast?

These podcasts share a similar audience with The 404 Media Podcast:

1. Tech Won't Save Us
2. Better Offline
3. Mystery AI Hype Theater 3000
4. This Machine Kills
5. Uncanny Valley | WIRED

How many episodes of The 404 Media Podcast are there?

The 404 Media Podcast launched 3 years ago and published 187 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for The 404 Media Podcast?

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What guests have appeared on The 404 Media Podcast?

Recent guests on The 404 Media Podcast include:

1. Britt Paris
2. Matthew Gault
3. Natasha Schüll
4. Brian Merchant
5. Lorenzo Franceschi-Bicchierai
6. Maddy Myers
7. Whitney Phillips
8. Cindy Cohn

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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