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Artwork for The 404 Media Podcast

The 404 Media Podcast

404 Media
Deepfake Technology
Ai-Generated Content
AI Personality Tests
COM
Peer Review Process
Tiktok
Reddit
Google
Job Application Process
Open Source Search Engines
Adderall
Oxycontin
Facebook Algorithm
Flock
Linux
Xzutils
Discord
US Surveillance State
Social Media
AI Influencers

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 weeklyEpisodes175Founded3 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
NewsTech NewsTechnology

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Artwork for The 404 Media Podcast

Latest Episodes

We start this week with Joseph’s story on the inherent friction between secure chat apps like Signal and the phone they’re running on. Incoming message content can be stored in a phone’s internal notification database. After the break, Matthew tells ... more

YouTube

‘The Ambivalent Intent’ and ‘The Shadow Gospel’ author Whitney Phillips on how online got so bad

Why does the internet feel like it’s getting worse every single day, and why does it feel like the political landscape is getting worse in response? The... more

YouTube

This week we start with Jason’s story about how wildlife cops are doing Flock lookups for ICE. It shows that ICE is gaining access to this sort of information through pretty unexpected ways. After the break, Emanuel tells us all about the AI ban at W... more

YouTube

This week Jason brings you an interview he did with The Electronic Frontier Foundation’s executive director Cindy Cohn, who recently announced she would be stepping down from the legendary digital rights nonprofit after decades of service. Cindy's ne... more

YouTube

Key Facts

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Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

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Recent Guests

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)
Matthew Gault
Regular contributor to 404 Media who contributed the piece discussed
404 Media
Episode: Inside the AI Slop Propaganda Wars
Dhruv Mehrotra
Data journalist and investigator at Bloomberg, former Wired contributor and Gizmodo writer
Bloomberg
Episode: The Journalist Who Tracked Epstein Island Visitors’ Phones
Alex Hanna
Writer and sociologist of technology, labor, and politics
Distributed AI Research Institute (DARE)
Episode: The Marketing Tricks of "Artificial Intelligence"
Emily M. Bender
Professor of Linguistics, University of Washington
University of Washington
Episode: The Marketing Tricks of "Artificial Intelligence"
Chris Parr
Documentary filmmaker, known for the video I Mapped Google's Only Secret City
Independent filmmaker
Episode: Google Street View's Unmappable City
Cecilia D'Anstasio
Bloomberg journalist who covers video games and business/controversies around Roblox
Bloomberg
Episode: Understanding Roblox’s Grooming Problem
Cooper Quintin
Security researcher and senior public interest technologist with the Electronic Frontier Foundation.
Electronic Frontier Foundation
Episode: How to Detect Phone Spying Tech (with Cooper Quintin)
Harlo Holmes
Chief Security Programs Officer at Freedom of the Press Foundation, media scholar, software programmer, and activist
Freedom of the Press Foundation
Episode: Privacy Under Pressure (With Harlo Holmes)

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
  • Everyone needs to follow

    This is the era of independent journalism and 404 Media is at the forefront. This podcast is one of several that I recommend to anyone who will listen. The hosts take on timely, often under-reported topics that have real-world implications on a national and global scale. Thanks, 404 gang!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Littleworldcunningly
    United Statesa month ago
  • Important, relevant reporting

    I’m basically the opposite of a tech enthusiast, but this is one of my favorite podcasts. The reporters make it really clear why tech stories matter, & how tech (& tech billionaires) are impacting our lives. They cover topics I DO care about (politics, government, surveillance, parenting) and I learn SO much. I don’t see these stories being covered much by other media outlets either. And even though they’re always saying they don’t know how to do a podcast (lol) I really enjoy listening to them.... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    allmartt
    United Statesa month ago
  • A great podcast for those interested in a candid discussion of technology and its impact on our society

    Podcast Addict
    5
    jroath
    a month ago
  • Covers lots of important stories but suffers from shapeless and baggy prodution

    Kind of ironic that a podcast about technology should have low production values. These folks wouldn’t publish a story without first polishing and editing it, so why do they think it’s okay to churn out meandering interviews that appear to be unedited? They clearly don’t have much respect for their listeners. Not a great way to build an audience either.

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    MBelderson
    United Kingdoma month ago
  • Top quality

    I’ve been following these guys since vice. I’m Canadian and find the info keeps more up to date with what I need ti know than any other tech podcasts. These folks are doing the good work. Keep it up. Please bring back the old intro music!!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Canadiantoot
    Canada2 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
#10
United Kingdom/News/Tech News
Apple Podcasts
#12
Canada/News/Tech News
Apple Podcasts
#10
Italy/News/Tech News
Apple Podcasts
#13
Australia/News/Tech News
Apple Podcasts
#20
France/News/Tech News

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Google Street View's Unmappable City
Q: Can you tell me a little bit about North Oaks, Minnesota, and why it is not on Street View?
North Oaks is a private, gated municipality where residents own the roads and property; there is no public easement, so Google treated it as private and stopped showing Street View imagery there, making it the only unmapped city in the country.
Understanding Roblox’s Grooming Problem
Q: How does Roblox moderation work and what makes it challenging?
Moderation includes filtering content and supervising interactions in a 3D space, which is technically complicated due to the volume of user-generated content, the social dynamics, and the difficulty in detecting grooming and abusive behavior even with AI.
Understanding Roblox’s Grooming Problem
Q: Cecilia, what is Roblox?
Roblox is not a single game but a platform – a 'mall' of user-created games and experiences where players can socialize, customize avatars, and engage in a vast economy with its own currency, Robux.
What It’s Like to Be a Data Labeler Training AI
Q: Do you regret doing this job, or do you feel like it's something that you just needed to do in order to provide for your family and your child?
He feels it was necessary to take the job due to financial burdens, despite the negative impacts.
What It’s Like to Be a Data Labeler Training AI
Q: Did any place that you work for ever offer you any sort of like mental health support at all?
No place offered any mental health support, highlighting a lack of understanding of the trauma faced by workers.

Audience Metrics

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

Listeners per Episode
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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. Panic World

How many episodes of The 404 Media Podcast are there?

The 404 Media Podcast launched 3 years ago and published 175 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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What guests have appeared on The 404 Media Podcast?

Recent guests on The 404 Media Podcast include:

1. Cindy Cohn
2. Matthew Gault
3. Dhruv Mehrotra
4. Alex Hanna
5. Emily M. Bender
6. Chris Parr
7. Cecilia D'Anstasio
8. Cooper Quintin

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