The 404 Media Podcast: Total Chaos at Meta
Release Date: January 15, 2025
Hosts: Joseph, Sam Cole, Emmanuel Mayberg, and Jason Kebler
Podcast: The 404 Media Podcast
Episode: Total Chaos at Meta
1. Introduction
In this episode of The 404 Media Podcast, host Joseph, alongside co-founders Sam Cole, Emmanuel Mayberg, and Jason Kebler, delves deep into the internal turmoil at Meta following the company's recent controversial policy changes. The discussion sheds light on how these changes are affecting employees, the company's alignment with political agendas, and the broader implications for free speech and content moderation on Meta's platforms.
2. Merchandise Update
Jason Kebler kicks off the conversation by providing an update on 404 Media's new merchandise. Due to high demand and limited stock storage, the team has faced challenges in fulfilling orders promptly. Jason shares:
"[00:46] Jason Kebler: We're going to try to restock as quickly as possible if you're interested in buying merch."
Joseph encourages listeners to visit the 404 Media website to purchase merchandise and support the journalist-owned media company.
3. Main Story: Total Chaos at Meta
a. Policy Changes by Meta
Jason introduces the primary topic: Meta's sweeping changes to its speech and content moderation policies. Mark Zuckerberg announced that Meta would lift restrictions on discussions surrounding immigration, sexual orientation, gender identity, and other sensitive topics, claiming these changes align with "mainstream discourse."
b. Employee Reactions
The hosts discuss the significant backlash from within Meta. Jason reveals that he interviewed five current Meta employees who expressed strong disapproval of the new policies. Internal communications highlighted that:
"[04:45] Jason Kebler: ...hundreds of different comments from people who say that this change is going to make people less safe..."
Employees are reportedly threatening to resign in protest, with some already submitting their two weeks' notice.
c. Zuckerberg’s Alignment with Trump
The conversation shifts to Zuckerberg's strategic alignment with the incoming Trump administration. The hosts suggest that Zuckerberg is attempting to curry favor with conservative leaders to shield Meta from regulatory pressures and potentially influence policies that could benefit the company.
"[07:26] Joseph: Well, that's because that's something that Musk can't fake... but you can't fake throwing a punch in MMA."
d. Comparisons with Elon Musk
In a lighthearted comparison, Joseph and Jason contrast Zuckerberg's visible commitment to activities like MMA training with Elon Musk's more casual public persona. They humorously speculate on a hypothetical MMA match between the two tech moguls.
e. Zuckerberg’s Interview on Joe Rogan
Emmanuel Mayberg provides insights from Zuckerberg's appearance on The Joe Rogan Experience. He critiques Zuckerberg's performance, noting:
"[09:41] Emmanuel Mayberg: ...the fact that the current administration would email a social media company and pressure them to remove this type of content or that type of content is notable. And it's kind of scary..."
Emmanuel underscores the concerning implications of government influence over social media platforms, especially regarding content removal.
f. Deletion of Trans Themes on Messenger
The hosts discuss Meta's decision to remove trans and non-binary themed color schemes from Messenger, a move seen as part of the broader shift away from supporting LGBTQ+ communities. Joseph points out the contradiction in Meta's stance on free speech versus its actions:
"[30:23] Jason Kebler: ...they also announced they're not going to do diversity. They're not going to consider diversity in hiring anymore..."
Employees argue that these changes are not only undermining Meta's core values but are also contributing to a toxic work environment.
4. Second Story: Location Data and Gravy Analytics Hack
a. Overview of Gravy Analytics
Joseph transitions to a critical issue in the digital landscape: the recent hack of Gravy Analytics, a significant player in the location data industry. Gravy Analytics collects and sells location data from various apps to businesses and government agencies.
b. Details of the Hack
The podcast details how hackers accessed an Amazon Web Services (AWS) instance used by Gravy Analytics, threatening to release up to 17 terabytes of sensitive location data. While only a fraction (~1.5 GB) has been leaked so far, the potential exposure includes precise location coordinates tied to thousands of apps, raising privacy and security concerns.
c. Impact on Apps and Users
Jason highlights the vast number of apps affected—ranging from major platforms like Tinder and MyFitnessPal to smaller, less-known applications. The data breach exposes how widespread location data collection is, often without users' explicit knowledge or consent.
d. Differences from Previous Data Collection Practices
Joseph contrasts this incident with past practices where apps explicitly included SDKs from location data companies, transparently sharing user data for monetization. In the current scenario, data is being harvested implicitly through real-time bidding (RTB) in advertising, making it harder for app developers to control or even be aware of the extent of data sharing.
"[44:10] Joseph: ...every single company I contacted... we've never heard of Gravy, we've never shared data with Gravy..."
e. Future Coverage
The hosts express their commitment to ongoing coverage of the Gravy Analytics hack, focusing on the implications for user privacy and the broader advertising ecosystem. Joseph mentions plans to investigate sensitive locations and the potential misuse of location data.
5. Conclusion
As the episode wraps up, Joseph reiterates the gravity of Meta's internal chaos and the widespread implications of the Gravy Analytics data breach. He encourages listeners to subscribe to The 404 Media Podcast for in-depth reporting and continued analysis of these critical issues.
"[52:10] Joseph: I'll keep an eye on that story and I will update everybody if I do get anything..."
Support and Subscription:
Listeners are reminded to support 404 Media by subscribing for ad-free episodes, access to bonus content, and to help sustain journalist-owned media.
Notable Quotes:
- Jason Kebler [04:45]: "A member of the policy team told employees in the thread that, 'our core values have not changed.'"
- Emmanuel Mayberg [09:41]: "The fact that the current administration would email a social media company and pressure them to remove this type of content is notable. And it's kind of scary."
- Jason Kebler [30:23]: "We're not going to do diversity. We're not going to consider diversity in hiring anymore..."
This episode of The 404 Media Podcast offers a comprehensive look into the seismic shifts happening within Meta and the broader tech industry's handling of user data. Through detailed reporting and insightful discussions, the hosts illuminate the challenges and ethical dilemmas faced by one of the world's most influential companies.