BONUS SERIES: Levittown Episode 3 | The Hunter

Oct 11, 2026 · Summarized Oct 11, 2026

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Key takeaways

ChatGPT Work is designed to help users transform chaotic initial ideas and scattered information into reviewable, useful work, streamlining the creative process.
The series exposes the global problem of online harassment and the use of vile websites to target women across different countries, highlighting the coordination between law enforcement agencies.
Victims like Lucy often face frequent, disturbing harassment that can persist for years, with police frequently undertrained in digital literacy and unable to help effectively.
Investigators used digital forensics, reverse image searches, and online surveillance to track down perpetrators operating through encrypted accounts, VPNs, and obscure locations.
Deepfake technology has created a new frontier in online abuse, enabling the production of fake pornographic content that significantly complicates legal responses.
The case exemplifies the importance of international cooperation in tackling online harassment and the need to develop laws specifically addressing synthetic images.
The successful arrest and guilty plea of Finn Cotton demonstrates that persistent investigation, even over years, can lead to justice in online abuse cases.
Law enforcement agencies must continuously adapt to new digital tools and tactics used by cybercriminals to combat increasingly sophisticated and hidden online threats.

Summary

Introduction to ChatGPT Work and Its Capabilities

The episode opens by discussing how some people see ChatGPT as just a smart search engine, while others use it as a full-fledged work assistant. The host explains that ChatGPT Work is a new mode designed to help users execute actions across apps, stay committed to projects for hours if necessary, and convert goals into tangible output. This mode aims to turn a chaotic initial collection of ideas, materials, and scattered information into a first reviewable version—making the process of creating useful work more efficient. The host encourages listeners to try ChatGPT Work by visiting chatgpt.com and selecting the Work Mode feature, which is available on the Plus and Pro plans. The underlying goal is to enable ambitious projects to progress smoothly from conception to completion.

Corporate and Business Technology Initiatives

The episode features short segments on corporate technology, highlighting Comcast Business’s extensive infrastructure powering over 90% of the Fortune 500 and many small businesses with AI-backed networking across more than 100 countries. Comcast emphasizes their customer support, available 24/7. Next, it covers Wise, an internationally focused digital currency service that offers transparent exchange rates and fast transfers—most within 20 seconds—aimed at helping individuals and businesses avoid hidden bank fees when transferring money abroad. These advertisements underscore how leading companies are innovating in their respective fields to support business needs.

Series Introduction and Warning

A series introduction warns listeners that the episodes explore sensitive and disturbing topics involving minors, violence, and sexualized imagery. The hosts advise caution while listening to this series, as it contains explicit content related to harassment campaigns and online abuse.

Investigation of Online Harassment in New Zealand and Levertown

The main narrative follows investigative journalist Margie Murphy and Olivia Carville as they explore online harassment campaigns targeting women in New Zealand and Levertown, Long Island. The story focuses on Detective Doug Nuku, a seasoned police officer, who is drawn into these cases after a woman reports being bombarded with horrific images and threats, some of which include child abuse materials. Doug, who has a tough background, recounts how he was impacted by witnessing victims in prison and how he responded to online abuse cases. Doug’s team uncovers a network of harassers and identifies a suspect, Finn Cotton, in Nelson, New Zealand. The episode details the efforts of private investigator Will Wallace, who tracks the suspect online, finds links to the harassment campaigns, and eventually helps law enforcement locate and apprehend Cotton, who pleads guilty in October 2024.

Lucy’s Case and Personal Impact of Harassment

The narrative dives into the experiences of Lucy, a young woman from New Zealand who was subjected to harassment starting in 2015. Lucy shares how her images were stolen from social media and used on fake Tinder profiles to send explicit content, often without her face visible. She recounts her difficulty in obtaining help from law enforcement, describing her police visits as humiliating and unhelpful, with officers unfamiliar with digital platforms and online harassment legislation. Despite moving abroad to study, Lucy’s harassment persisted, escalating to threats of blackmail and physical harm, with the harasser revealing knowledge of her family’s contact details. Her story illustrates the long-lasting emotional toll, including fear and suspicion, as she struggled to convince authorities of the criminality involved.

The Apprehension and Capture of Finn Cotton

Eventually, law enforcement, assisted by digital forensics and online surveillance, tracks the perpetrator, Finn Cotton, based on specific evidence like unmasked IP addresses and distinctive physical items visible in photos. The police in Nelson, New Zealand, execute a raid on Cotton’s residence, leading to his arrest. Lucy, who hadn’t seen him since childhood, reflects on the shock of seeing him in person and the profound relief of capturing someone responsible for years of abuse. In October 2024, Finn Cotton pleads guilty to charges including blackmail, causing harm through digital communications, and possessing child sexual abuse materials. His conviction marks the culmination of a nearly decade-long campaign against multiple victims.

Deepfakes and the Broader Issue of Online Vile Content

The investigation reveals that the harasser and others involved were using advanced tools to create deepfake images, including non-consensual fake pornography and manipulated photos depicting violence and abuse. Will Wallace emphasizes that these images represent a new level of online harassment, blurring the lines between illegal content and harmful digital manipulation. The episode discusses how websites hosting such material, especially those operating across borders, complicate legal responses, as some jurisdictions lacked specific laws against deepfake pornography at the time. The episode underscores the growing menace of synthetic images that can be used to terrorize victims further and the ongoing challenge for law enforcement to keep up with technological advances.

International Efforts and the Ongoing Fight Against Such Content

The episode concludes by highlighting that law enforcement agencies in different countries, including New Zealand and New York, recognized the severity of the problem and collaborated to investigate the website hosting the vile content. With no initial laws against deepfake pornography, authorities had to innovate and adapt existing legal frameworks. This international effort underscores the scale of the problem and the significant resources dedicated to combating online harassment involving minors, violence, and synthetic images. The narrative ends with a reflection on how this case has reshaped the investigators’ understanding of digital crime and the need for continuous legal evolution.

Show notes

It’s not just Levittown. The website hosting the doctored photos is the nexus of campaigns to harass women across the world. A victim in New Zealand helps to spark a global battle against the site and its elusive owner.

For official transcripts and additional information on this series, go to bloomberg.com/levittown

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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