Sam Cole

Inspector General Investigating Whether ICE's Surveillance Tech Breaks the Law DHS's inspector general is probing ICE's biometric and surveillance programs.

The inspector general is investigating whether ICE’s surveillance is legal. Even if this doesn’t result in any changes it will likely result in more details about how these systems work and that will hopefully be useful: www.404media.co/inspector-ge...

I yelled for real

also: they didn't say photoshop fwiw. just to be so so clear. I suspect it's like, a touristy photo booth situation? maybe?

this particular image has been fueling a lot of theories about AI being used to redact the files. so at least now we know what happened in this case specifically

ok, whoa. the DOJ just told me that the unredacted version of the document in question contains an image of a victim’s face overlayed on the face of the Mona Lisa image. so, that's why it's redacted. jesus christ

fuck this clown show part 193917310 bsky.app/profile/did:...

DOJ Released Unredacted Nude Images in Epstein Files A note from investigators in the files said some images Epstein had were "POSSIBLE CSAM."

meanwhile: www.404media.co/doj-released...

The DOJ Redacted a Photo of the Mona Lisa in the Epstein Files While Epstein’s victims endure the fallout of their photos and names being exposed in the Department of Justice’s latest tranche of files, investigators redacted the identity of the most famous portra...

cool. glad we protected her identity at least www.404media.co/the-doj-reda...

This Tool Searches the Epstein Files For Your LinkedIn Contacts EpsteIN—as in, Epstein and LinkedIn—searches your connections on the social network for names that match those in the released files.

A new tool lets you search the Epstein files for mentions of your LinkedIn contacts. Tried it out, does work. Outputs a report with links to the material on the DOJ website.

www.404media.co/this-tool-se...

The Washington Post Is No Longer Useful to Jeff Bezos In a kleptocracy, there is no reason for a billionaire to own an adversarial news outlet.

There is zero reason for a billionaire to own an adversarial news outlet in a kleptocracy. And so billionaires are gutting the media companies they own, reorienting them to better align with the regime, and spending money on bribes rather than journalists

www.404media.co/the-washingt...

The Washington Post Is No Longer Useful to Jeff Bezos In a kleptocracy, there is no reason for a billionaire to own an adversarial news outlet.

"....what its journalists do—accountability journalism about the rich and powerful—does not serve someone who is rich and powerful. The Washington Post and many of its reporters are no longer useful to Bezos, and so he has decided to get rid of them."

www.404media.co/the-washingt...

Donate to Washington Post 2026 layoff fund, organized by Rachel Siegel On Wednesday, Feb. 4, 2026, The Washington Post laid off hundreds of journalists. We ar… Rachel Siegel needs your support for Washington Post 2026 layoff fund

Whatever you think of the Washington Post at this moment, here's a chance to support the dedicated, hard-working journalists who were just laid off. If you have the means, your donation is most welcome. If you don't, a kind thought and maybe spreading the word to others is support enough 💙

the @404media.co podcast is out today. this week we talk about the bungled Epstein files data dumps, and the complete disaster it's been for victims whose photos and names were exposed:

www.404media.co/podcast-the-...

are you/do you know any online SWers in AL or NC? hit my dms pls for a story! or email and signal are in my bio

Donate to Washington Post 2026 layoff fund, organized by Rachel Siegel On Wednesday, Feb. 4, 2026, The Washington Post laid off hundreds of journalists. We ar… Rachel Siegel needs your support for Washington Post 2026 layoff fund

We at the @postguild.bsky.social are raising money for the hundreds of journalists the Post just laid off. This goes to the people who are hurting, not the Post. Or if you'd rather, go subscribe to an independent journalist. Support is hugely appreciated.

www.gofundme.com/f/standing-t...

Given the WaPo disaster, I’m re-posting my starter pack of indie journalists—it probably needs an update so give me a shout to add folks.
#wapo #journalism
go.bsky.app/A2UpMn5

From the technology community on Reddit: Hi! We're 404 Media's Jason Koebler and Joseph Cox. AMA (us) about the tech ICE is using, Flock and the state of surveillance in the US on Feb. 4, 12 pm ET Explore this post and more from the technology community

LIVE NOW: 404 Media is taking your questions on the state of surveillance in the US: from Flock cameras to tools Palantir made for ICE to find neighborhoods to raid.

Join us now (we have lots of great questions already and we'll try to get to as many as possible!)
www.reddit.com/r/technology...

FBI Couldn’t Get into WaPo Reporter’s iPhone Because It Had Lockdown Mode Enabled Lockdown Mode is a sometimes overlooked feature of Apple devices that broadly make them harder to hack. A court record indicates the feature might be effective at stopping third parties unlocking some...

New from 404 Media: the FBI has been unable to get into the iPhone of raided Washington Post journalist because the phone had Lockdown Mode enabled. Apple markets Lockdown Mode mostly to stop spyware like NSO. Here, a real world example of it stopping access too www.404media.co/fbi-couldnt-...

will they answer anything? different story

anything

joe and jason holding their AMA proof notecards. looking tough

my first question: is @evystadium.bsky.social holding them hostage in these images? we'll find out soon

From the technology community on Reddit: Hi! We're 404 Media's Jason Koebler and Joseph Cox. AMA (us) about the tech ICE is using, Flock and the state of surveillance in the US on Feb. 4, 12 pm ET Explore this post and more from the technology community

ask @josephcox.bsky.social and @jasonkoebler.bsky.social ANYTHING. get your questions in now and they'll start answering live today at noon est:
www.reddit.com/r/technology...

🚨fun (?) project alert / help needed🚨

if you live in OTTUMWA, IOWA please dm or signal me @jason.404.

seeking contact with ottumwa resident

Hackers and Trolls Target Wave of ICE Spotting Apps Hackers have targeted a spread of apps or sites that aim to track ICE activity, in one case even sending push notifications to users in an attempt to intimidate them.

New from 404 Media: hackers and trolls have targeted a wave of ICE spotting apps, those that let you report sightings of ICE officials. In one case, hackers even managed to send a push notification to app users. Claimed personal data sent to the gov, but no evidence
www.404media.co/hackers-and-...

Wedding Photo Booth Company Exposes Customers’ Drunken Photos ‘Curator Live’, a popular photo booth company for weddings and other events, is exposing all sorts of unsuspecting people’s photos.

tough news: security researchers saw you doing the 👅✌️ pose at your cousin's wedding www.404media.co/wedding-phot...

DOJ Released Unredacted Nude Images in Epstein Files A note from investigators in the files said some images Epstein had were "POSSIBLE CSAM."

The images we're reporting on here were up for at least a day and a half, from Friday's release to Sunday. The DOJ has a tipline for reporting unredacted info. So they're hoping random members of the public help them find and remove what they failed to protect. www.404media.co/doj-released...

Exclusive | Epstein Files Release Exposes Names of at Least 43 Victims, WSJ Review Finds The Justice Department was required to redact all victims’ names prior to releasing the files.

These data dumps have been catastrophic for survivors; over the weekend, WSJ reported that full names were also exposed www.wsj.com/us-news/law/...

Unredacted sexually explicit images were in the files alongside notes written by investigators marking other photos as "possible CSAM." www.404media.co/doj-released...

DOJ Released Unredacted Nude Images in Epstein Files A note from investigators in the files said some images Epstein had were "POSSIBLE CSAM."

New: The DOJ left multiple unredacted nude images in the Epstein data dump. They only removed them after 404 Media reported the links. This is very disturbing: www.404media.co/doj-released...

Our Zine About ICE Surveillance Is Here Download a PDF of our first ever zine here.

ZINE PDF IS HERE www.404media.co/icezine/