Nathan Patin
@nathanpatin.bsky.social
digital investigator based in Colorado || former @Bellingcat member || former adjunct at Georgetown
Reposted by Nathan Patin
The tool presents users with a 3D model they can then manipulate to, the creator says, bypass Discord's age verification system.
Free Tool Says it Can Bypass Discord's Age Verification Check With a 3D Model
The tool presents users with a 3D model they can then manipulate to, the creator says, bypass Discord's age verification system.
www.404media.co
February 11, 2026 at 9:15 PM
The tool presents users with a 3D model they can then manipulate to, the creator says, bypass Discord's age verification system.
Reposted by Nathan Patin
In the latest episode of 'what happened to that CCTV footage from within an ICE detention center', the government now says it lost hard drives it was supposed to put the footage on
www.404media.co/government-l...
www.404media.co/government-l...
Government Loses Hard Drives It Was Supposed to Put ICE Detention Center Footage On
A Kafkaesque saga in which the government has failed to produce critical video footage has reached new levels of absurdity.
www.404media.co
February 11, 2026 at 8:33 PM
In the latest episode of 'what happened to that CCTV footage from within an ICE detention center', the government now says it lost hard drives it was supposed to put the footage on
www.404media.co/government-l...
www.404media.co/government-l...
Reposted by Nathan Patin
New, by @lorenzofb.bsky.social: Google sent personal and financial data about a student and journalist, who attended a pro-Palestine protest in 2024, to ICE agents in response to an "administrative subpoena," which had not been approved by a judge.
Google sent personal and financial information of student journalist to ICE | TechCrunch
The tech giant handed over the personal information of a journalist and student who attended a pro-Palestinian protest in 2024. This is the latest example of ICE using its controversial subpoena power...
techcrunch.com
February 10, 2026 at 8:48 PM
New, by @lorenzofb.bsky.social: Google sent personal and financial data about a student and journalist, who attended a pro-Palestine protest in 2024, to ICE agents in response to an "administrative subpoena," which had not been approved by a judge.
Reposted by Nathan Patin
no eres mis casa bonita
no eres mis esposa bonita
no eres mis esposa bonita
February 9, 2026 at 1:33 AM
no eres mis casa bonita
no eres mis esposa bonita
no eres mis esposa bonita
Reposted by Nathan Patin
404 Media just had an ad during the #SuperBowl! We Googled "smallest TV markets in the United States" and bought an ad for $2,550 that only ran in Ottumwa, Iowa, population 25,000. That still counts
www.404media.co/watch-404-me...
www.404media.co/watch-404-me...
Watch 404 Media’s Super Bowl Ad
WE BOUGHT A SUPER BOWL AD.
www.404media.co
February 9, 2026 at 2:48 AM
404 Media just had an ad during the #SuperBowl! We Googled "smallest TV markets in the United States" and bought an ad for $2,550 that only ran in Ottumwa, Iowa, population 25,000. That still counts
www.404media.co/watch-404-me...
www.404media.co/watch-404-me...
Super Bowl commercials this year: “remember when we didn’t live in 2026”
February 9, 2026 at 2:14 AM
Super Bowl commercials this year: “remember when we didn’t live in 2026”
Rekognition says that was _not_ Liam (I hope it's wrong)
February 9, 2026 at 2:08 AM
Rekognition says that was _not_ Liam (I hope it's wrong)
Reposted by Nathan Patin
The X account that created the video Donald Trump shared depicting Barack and Michelle Obama as apes was previously behind the clip the US president shared that portrayed him as a pilot dumping excrement on "No Kings" protesters. Note the matching watermark.
February 6, 2026 at 2:51 PM
The X account that created the video Donald Trump shared depicting Barack and Michelle Obama as apes was previously behind the clip the US president shared that portrayed him as a pilot dumping excrement on "No Kings" protesters. Note the matching watermark.
Reposted by Nathan Patin
The CIA just stopped publishing their World Factbook and took every page, including the archived copies of previous versions!
This sucks. It was public domain, so I recovered the 2020 edition (the last one published as a zip file) and shared it to GitHub simonwillison.net/2026/Feb/5/t...
This sucks. It was public domain, so I recovered the 2020 edition (the last one published as a zip file) and shared it to GitHub simonwillison.net/2026/Feb/5/t...
Spotlighting The World Factbook as We Bid a Fond Farewell
Somewhat devastating news today from the CIA: One of CIA’s oldest and most recognizable intelligence publications, The World Factbook, has sunset. There's not even a hint as to why they …
simonwillison.net
February 5, 2026 at 12:25 AM
The CIA just stopped publishing their World Factbook and took every page, including the archived copies of previous versions!
This sucks. It was public domain, so I recovered the 2020 edition (the last one published as a zip file) and shared it to GitHub simonwillison.net/2026/Feb/5/t...
This sucks. It was public domain, so I recovered the 2020 edition (the last one published as a zip file) and shared it to GitHub simonwillison.net/2026/Feb/5/t...
Reposted by Nathan Patin
🚨New WP "@Grok is this true?"
We analyze 1.6M factcheck requests on X (grok & Perplexity)
📌Usage is polarized, Grok users more likely to be Reps
📌BUT Rep posts rated as false more often—even by Grok
📌Bot agreement with factchecks is OK but not great; APIs match fact-checkers
osf.io/preprints/ps...
We analyze 1.6M factcheck requests on X (grok & Perplexity)
📌Usage is polarized, Grok users more likely to be Reps
📌BUT Rep posts rated as false more often—even by Grok
📌Bot agreement with factchecks is OK but not great; APIs match fact-checkers
osf.io/preprints/ps...
February 3, 2026 at 9:55 PM
🚨New WP "@Grok is this true?"
We analyze 1.6M factcheck requests on X (grok & Perplexity)
📌Usage is polarized, Grok users more likely to be Reps
📌BUT Rep posts rated as false more often—even by Grok
📌Bot agreement with factchecks is OK but not great; APIs match fact-checkers
osf.io/preprints/ps...
We analyze 1.6M factcheck requests on X (grok & Perplexity)
📌Usage is polarized, Grok users more likely to be Reps
📌BUT Rep posts rated as false more often—even by Grok
📌Bot agreement with factchecks is OK but not great; APIs match fact-checkers
osf.io/preprints/ps...
Reposted by Nathan Patin
I wrote some words for TechCrunch about how Homeland Security is using administrative subpoenas, which aren't subject to judicial oversight, to seek data from tech giants about Trump critics and anonymous accounts of ICE trackers. Featuring really great reporting by Bloomberg & Washington Post.
Homeland Security is trying to force tech companies to hand over data about Trump critics | TechCrunch
The use of administrative subpoenas, which are not subject to judicial oversight, are used to demand a wealth of information from tech companies, including the owners of anonymous online accounts docu...
techcrunch.com
February 3, 2026 at 6:45 PM
I wrote some words for TechCrunch about how Homeland Security is using administrative subpoenas, which aren't subject to judicial oversight, to seek data from tech giants about Trump critics and anonymous accounts of ICE trackers. Featuring really great reporting by Bloomberg & Washington Post.
Reposted by Nathan Patin
New: Together with colleagues I’ve been testing Grok.
The chatbot still produces sexualized images —
even when told the subjects don’t consent.
even when told the photos will be used for public humiliation.
even when told the subjects are survivors of abuse.
www.reuters.com/business/des...
The chatbot still produces sexualized images —
even when told the subjects don’t consent.
even when told the photos will be used for public humiliation.
even when told the subjects are survivors of abuse.
www.reuters.com/business/des...
Exclusive: Despite new curbs, Elon Musk’s Grok at times produces sexualized images - even when told subjects didn’t consent
Elon Musk’s flagship artificial intelligence chatbot, Grok, continues to generate sexualized images of people even when users explicitly warn that the subjects do not consent, Reuters has found.
www.reuters.com
February 3, 2026 at 11:37 AM
New: Together with colleagues I’ve been testing Grok.
The chatbot still produces sexualized images —
even when told the subjects don’t consent.
even when told the photos will be used for public humiliation.
even when told the subjects are survivors of abuse.
www.reuters.com/business/des...
The chatbot still produces sexualized images —
even when told the subjects don’t consent.
even when told the photos will be used for public humiliation.
even when told the subjects are survivors of abuse.
www.reuters.com/business/des...
Reposted by Nathan Patin
Citizen Lab senior researcher Bill Marczak served as a key witness in a UK ruling that ordered Saudi Arabia to pay £3M to Ghanem al-Masarir, a London-based dissident who was targeted with #Pegasus spyware.
Read the ruling: caselaw.nationalarchives.gov.uk/ewhc/kb/2026...
Read the ruling: caselaw.nationalarchives.gov.uk/ewhc/kb/2026...
Ghanem Al-Masarir v Kingdom of Saudi Arabia -
Find Case Law
- The National Archives
caselaw.nationalarchives.gov.uk
February 2, 2026 at 7:52 PM
Citizen Lab senior researcher Bill Marczak served as a key witness in a UK ruling that ordered Saudi Arabia to pay £3M to Ghanem al-Masarir, a London-based dissident who was targeted with #Pegasus spyware.
Read the ruling: caselaw.nationalarchives.gov.uk/ewhc/kb/2026...
Read the ruling: caselaw.nationalarchives.gov.uk/ewhc/kb/2026...
Reposted by Nathan Patin
Really interesting reporting from @suzannesmalley.bsky.social:
Civil society groups are warning that makers of spyware tied to human rights abuses (NSO Group) are inserting themselves into diplomatic initiatives (Pall Mall Process) as a way to whitewash their reputations.
Civil society groups are warning that makers of spyware tied to human rights abuses (NSO Group) are inserting themselves into diplomatic initiatives (Pall Mall Process) as a way to whitewash their reputations.
Spyware maker is hijacking diplomatic efforts to limit commercial hacking, civil society warns
Spyware maker NSO Group trumpeted the company’s participation in the Pall Mall Process, which drew criticism from civil society leaders and government officials who called out human rights abuses.
therecord.media
February 2, 2026 at 1:38 PM
Really interesting reporting from @suzannesmalley.bsky.social:
Civil society groups are warning that makers of spyware tied to human rights abuses (NSO Group) are inserting themselves into diplomatic initiatives (Pall Mall Process) as a way to whitewash their reputations.
Civil society groups are warning that makers of spyware tied to human rights abuses (NSO Group) are inserting themselves into diplomatic initiatives (Pall Mall Process) as a way to whitewash their reputations.
Reposted by Nathan Patin
A note from our editors:
February 1, 2026 at 9:10 PM
A note from our editors:
Reposted by Nathan Patin
February 1, 2026 at 9:14 PM
Reposted by Nathan Patin
Every journalist whose theat model includes this administration/the federal government needs to be aware of this. Signal for desktop + touch ID + they have a warrant = the feds can read any of your signal messages that haven't disappeared.
The FBI was able to access Washington Post reporter Hannah Natanson's Signal messages because she used Signal on her work laptop. The laptop accepted Touch ID for authentication, meaning the agents were allowed to require her to unlock it. storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
January 31, 2026 at 11:37 PM
Every journalist whose theat model includes this administration/the federal government needs to be aware of this. Signal for desktop + touch ID + they have a warrant = the feds can read any of your signal messages that haven't disappeared.
Reposted by Nathan Patin
ICYMI a massive thread about references to #hackers in this latest #Epstein files release with alt text on all screenshots and links to the files themselves:
#hacker #history
#hacker #history
Well shit, here we go again with the latest Epstein files drop.
Here’s an email from someone to Jeffrey Epstein telling him that he should hire Anonymous snitch sabu.
www.justice.gov/epstein/file...
Here’s an email from someone to Jeffrey Epstein telling him that he should hire Anonymous snitch sabu.
www.justice.gov/epstein/file...
![To:
Jeffrey Epsteinfjeevacation@gmail.com]
From:
Sent:
Wed 5/28/2014 3:23:21 AM
Subject:
Before being freed, hacker Sabu was 'extraordinary' FBI informant - Los Angeles Times
Hire this kid. Im serious.
http://www.latimes.com/nation/la-na-hacker-sentencing-20140528-story.html](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:2nhudqe7uplgqvnt72p2vxnb/bafkreihpbi47jhfmzxfknwwhkdhyk5fv6sboi6mpoaxnpfovyzpnkhkk6m@jpeg)
January 30, 2026 at 8:56 PM
Reposted by Nathan Patin
A Minnesota woman observing ICE agents in her car was cornered on one-way streets. An agent approached, called her by name—citing facial recognition. Days later, her Global Entry and TSA privileges were revoked, with no explanation.
How ICE Already Knows Who Minneapolis Protesters Are
www.nytimes.com
January 30, 2026 at 11:55 AM
A Minnesota woman observing ICE agents in her car was cornered on one-way streets. An agent approached, called her by name—citing facial recognition. Days later, her Global Entry and TSA privileges were revoked, with no explanation.
Reposted by Nathan Patin
Bellingcat community members have already found two files detailing explicit allegations that President Trump engaged in sexual activities with children.
One file is an FBI complaint form and the other is an FBI email chain.
www.justice.gov/epstein/file...
www.justice.gov/epstein/file...
One file is an FBI complaint form and the other is an FBI email chain.
www.justice.gov/epstein/file...
www.justice.gov/epstein/file...
January 30, 2026 at 5:45 PM
Bellingcat community members have already found two files detailing explicit allegations that President Trump engaged in sexual activities with children.
One file is an FBI complaint form and the other is an FBI email chain.
www.justice.gov/epstein/file...
www.justice.gov/epstein/file...
One file is an FBI complaint form and the other is an FBI email chain.
www.justice.gov/epstein/file...
www.justice.gov/epstein/file...
Reposted by Nathan Patin
New from 404 Media: here is the user guide for ELITE, the tool Palantir made for ICE. A map shows people on a map; ICE clicks them, brings up their dossier. ICE uses to find which neighborhoods to target. We obtained it, you can now read the document for yourself: www.404media.co/here-is-the-...
Here is the User Guide for ELITE, the Tool Palantir Made for ICE
404 Media is publishing a version of the user guide for ELITE, which lets ICE bring up dossiers on individual people and provides a “confidence score” of their address.
www.404media.co
January 30, 2026 at 2:51 PM
New from 404 Media: here is the user guide for ELITE, the tool Palantir made for ICE. A map shows people on a map; ICE clicks them, brings up their dossier. ICE uses to find which neighborhoods to target. We obtained it, you can now read the document for yourself: www.404media.co/here-is-the-...
Reposted by Nathan Patin
At least one of the newly released Epstein file is already down.
This link no longer appears to work (www.justice.gov/epstein/file...)
It contained an FBI email chain outlining an allegation against Trump involving sexual activities with a child.
This is a screenshot from that email chain.
This link no longer appears to work (www.justice.gov/epstein/file...)
It contained an FBI email chain outlining an allegation against Trump involving sexual activities with a child.
This is a screenshot from that email chain.
January 30, 2026 at 6:07 PM
At least one of the newly released Epstein file is already down.
This link no longer appears to work (www.justice.gov/epstein/file...)
It contained an FBI email chain outlining an allegation against Trump involving sexual activities with a child.
This is a screenshot from that email chain.
This link no longer appears to work (www.justice.gov/epstein/file...)
It contained an FBI email chain outlining an allegation against Trump involving sexual activities with a child.
This is a screenshot from that email chain.
Reposted by Nathan Patin
Our community has already noticed a number of the documents released today have been removed from public access.
For anyone interested in digging through the new Epstein Files release our Discord community are going through the files at the moment
Thread - discord.com/channels/709...
Invite link for newbies - discord.com/invite/belli...
Thread - discord.com/channels/709...
Invite link for newbies - discord.com/invite/belli...
Discord - Group Chat That’s All Fun & Games
Discord is great for playing games and chilling with friends, or even building a worldwide community. Customize your own space to talk, play, and hang out.
discord.com
January 30, 2026 at 6:14 PM
Our community has already noticed a number of the documents released today have been removed from public access.
Reposted by Nathan Patin
1/ NEW: @propublica.org has obtained a search warrant that the FBI is executing for records related to the contested 2020 election in Fulton County, Ga., which has not yet been widely shared. It’s an extraordinary document.
Link: www.documentcloud.org/documents/26...
Link: www.documentcloud.org/documents/26...
1-28-26 Fulton Warrant
www.documentcloud.org
January 28, 2026 at 10:56 PM
1/ NEW: @propublica.org has obtained a search warrant that the FBI is executing for records related to the contested 2020 election in Fulton County, Ga., which has not yet been widely shared. It’s an extraordinary document.
Link: www.documentcloud.org/documents/26...
Link: www.documentcloud.org/documents/26...