The 404 Media Podcast: "DOGE's Website, Hacked" – Detailed Summary

Release Date: February 19, 2025
Host: 404 Media (Joseph, Sam Cole, Emanuel Mayberg, Jason Kebler)

1. Introduction to the Episode's Focus

In this episode of The 404 Media Podcast, hosts Joseph, Sam Cole, Emanuel Mayberg, and Jason Kebler delve into two significant stories shaping the digital landscape. The primary focus is on the recent cyberattack that defaced the doge.gov website, followed by an exploration of the troubling trend of lawyers using artificial intelligence (AI) to fabricate legal cases.

2. Cyberattack on Doge.gov

a. Overview of the Defacement

Jason Kebler initiates the discussion by recounting the events surrounding the defacement of the doge.gov website. Initially launched by Elon Musk, doge.gov was presented as a transparent government platform aimed at combating fraud, waste, and abuse within federal agencies. However, the website quickly became a target for malicious actors.

Jason Kebler [02:39]: "The doge.gov website is... well, it was a website that didn't exist like at the beginning of last week..."

b. Technical Vulnerability Exploited

The crux of the issue lay in a vulnerability associated with Cloudflare Pages, an internet infrastructure service. Unlike standard government-hosted sites, doge.gov was inadvertently hosted on a Cloudflare Pages URL, which was not secured adequately. This oversight allowed attackers to identify and exploit API endpoints that were left exposed.

Jason Kebler [04:45]: "They were able to find the API endpoints for these databases which were left exposed, meaning they were able to find out where the database was pulling from, and they were able to push their own database records to the database that were then reflected on the Live page."

The attackers manipulated the website by inserting their own content, including misleading statements about data security and the integrity of doge.gov.

Jason Kebler [06:18]: "They were able to push new entries to the database that were then reflected on the Live page."

c. Response and Implications

Despite the breach, the defaced website remained altered for approximately 18 hours—a notably extended period compared to typical government website rectifications. This delay suggests potential negligence or resource constraints within the agency responsible for doge.gov. Additionally, subsequent breaches indicated that the initial vulnerability was not promptly addressed.

Jason Kebler [07:33]: "They still haven't fixed it, which is pretty concerning."

Joseph highlights the irony and the potential reputation damage caused by such oversights, questioning the capacity of the authorities to manage their digital platforms effectively.

Joseph [09:00]: "What does it really tell us that even their website was apparently held together by digital string."

3. Related Incidents: dei.gov and waste.gov

The discussion transitions to related incidents involving dei.gov and waste.gov—additional government websites launched with similar oversight issues.

a. Exposure of dei.gov

Sam Cole reports that dei.gov was inadvertently left unprotected for 30 minutes, allowing a researcher to scrape its contents. The exposed data included questionable allocations of federal funds, such as:

• $3.4 million for a "Malaysian drug-fueled gay sex app"
• $15,000 to queer Muslim writers in India
• $1.3 million to Arab and Jewish photographers

Sam Cole [13:07]: "It's just a laundry list of random shit that like they are claiming is wasteful use of federal funds."

These allocations lacked credible sources or references, raising concerns about the authenticity and intentions behind dei.gov.

b. Placeholder Content on waste.gov

Jason Kebler discusses the waste.gov website, which was discovered to host placeholder content for an imaginary architecture firm named "Etude." The website featured generic language promoting diversity and sustainability, directly conflicting with an executive order against Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI).

Jason Kebler [17:53]: "The placeholder language for this imaginary architecture firm violates Trump's executive order against DEI because it talks about how this imaginary architecture firm cares about diversity and cares about sustainability."

Following the publication of these issues, both dei.gov and waste.gov were secured behind password walls, leaving their future uncertain.

Jason Kebler [18:12]: "If you go to those websites right now, it just says this content is password protected."

c. Implications of Multiple Security Lapses

These interconnected incidents underscore a broader pattern of lax security and haphazard execution in the rollout of government digital initiatives. The inability to safeguard sensitive information and maintain professional website standards reflects poorly on the managing agencies.

Sam Cole [15:13]: "All three of these stories are very closely related because they're all new websites that have been spun up to track... government waste."

4. Transition to AI in Legal Practices

After addressing the cyberattacks and related website issues, the podcast shifts focus to the burgeoning use of AI within legal practices, highlighting significant concerns and recent incidents.

5. Lawyers Using AI to Fabricate Cases

a. Overview of the Issue

Sam Cole introduces the troubling phenomenon of lawyers employing AI, specifically large language models (LLMs) like ChatGPT, to generate fictitious case citations in legal filings. This malpractice undermines the integrity of the legal system and poses serious ethical and legal repercussions.

Sam Cole [22:38]: "They had used... a bunch of different cases. They don't exist."

b. Specific Cases Highlighted

1. Walmart Hoverboard Incident (2023):
   • Case Details: Plaintiffs sued Walmart over a defective Jetson hoverboard that allegedly caused a house fire.
   • AI Misconduct: Lawyers cited eight out of nine non-existent cases to support their motion.
   • Outcome: Upon discovery, the case was deemed exceptionally embarrassing, prompting immediate apologies and discussions about AI usage in legal settings.

Sam Cole [24:29]: "They said... I'm so sorry."

2. Michael Cohen's Case (2024):

   • Case Details: Renowned lawyer Michael Cohen and his team used Google's Bard to generate fake case citations.
   • Outcome: Although not fined, the judge publicly criticized the actions as embarrassing, highlighting systemic issues in legal AI governance.

3. Avianca Airlines Incident (2022):

   • Case Details: A plaintiff filed a lawsuit against Avianca Airlines for injury caused by a server cart during a flight.
   • AI Misconduct: The legal team fabricated cases, leading to a $5,000 fine and stern reprimand from the judge for violating court protocols.

Sam Cole [26:22]: "The judge was... calling their existence into question."

c. Broader Implications for the Legal Industry

Emmanuel Mayberg emphasizes the critical need for lawyers to possess deep legal knowledge and the dangers of over-reliance on AI tools without proper oversight.

Emmanuel Mayberg [29:33]: "The idea that you would pay a lawyer who is not cheap ever to just like have a chatbot do it and then not even double check the output is so crazy."

Jason Kebler adds that while automating certain legal processes can enhance efficiency, the mishandling and misuse of AI risks compromising the justice system's credibility.

Jason Kebler [35:59]: "Legalists... allowing betting on the outcomes of lawsuits."

6. Reflection on the Intersection of Technology and Professional Integrity

The podcast underscores the fragile balance between leveraging technology for efficiency and maintaining professional and ethical standards. Both the cyberattacks on government websites and the misuse of AI in legal practices reveal vulnerabilities in digital systems and professional oversight mechanisms.

Joseph [10:24]: "With all of the chaos across the US Federal government... it's not a great look."

The hosts collectively express concern over the increasing integration of AI in sensitive domains without adequate safeguards, warning of potential future crises stemming from such oversights.

7. Conclusion

The episode wraps up by highlighting the critical need for stronger cybersecurity measures within government agencies and stringent regulations governing AI usage in professional fields. The 404 Media Podcast serves as a crucial platform for uncovering hidden digital vulnerabilities and holding institutions accountable in an increasingly technology-driven world.

Notable Quotes:

• Rachel Toback [00:00]: "Delete Me makes it harder for these bad actors by scrubbing your employees details regularly."

• Joseph [22:16]: "This is a game. Who's the best hacker? And I was like, well, this is child's play."

• Sam Cole [24:46]: "It's somebody up majorly. So obviously at that point, I'm paying attention. I'm like, you don't really see lawyers immediately apologizing profusely."

• Emmanuel Mayberg [29:33]: "I was livid. We would probably try to sue them ourselves."

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