Data on Financial Transfers Bolster Suspicions That Russia Offered Bounties | Facebook Bans Network with 'Boogaloo' Ties | FCC formally declares Huawei, ZTE ‘national security threats’
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American officials intercepted electronic data showing large financial transfers from a bank account controlled by Russia's military intelligence agency to a Taliban-linked account, which was among the evidence that supported their conclusion that Russia covertly offered bounties for killing US and coalition troops in Afghanistan. The New York Times
People and groups associated with the decentralized movement, called boogaloo, will be banned from Facebook and Instagram, which Facebook also owns, the company said. The New York Times.
The Federal Communication Commission has declared Chinese telecom giants Huawei and ZTE “national security threats,” a move that will formally ban U.S. telecom companies from using federal funds to buy and install Huawei and ZTE equipment. TechCrunch
ASPI ICPC
China’s Online Warriors Want More Gates in the Firewall
Foreign Policy
@fryan
With Chinese internet users relegated to government-approved VPNs, Beijing could ensure that whomever it allowed through the Great Firewall stayed on their best behavior. After all, why limit yourself to a small pack of Wolf Warriors when there’s a whole knot of toadies waiting in the wings?
Wanted: patriotic Australians who like to spend time online
ABC News
@FergusHanson
The Australian Government has today revealed a plan to beef up our cyber warfare capabilities. Featured: Fergus Hanson, Director of the International Cyber Policy Centre, Australian Strategic Policy Institute
Government bolsters cyber security funding by $1.3b
MSN
@Fergus Hanson
Fergus Hanson is the Director of the International Cyber Policy Centre at the Australian Strategic Policy Institute. He says the funding boost is remarkable given the nation's economic circumstances.
The World
Data on Financial Transfers Bolstered Suspicions That Russia Offered Bounties
The New York Times
@charlie_savage @MujMash @rcallimachi @EricSchmittNYT
American officials intercepted electronic data showing large financial transfers from a bank account controlled by Russia's military intelligence agency to a Taliban-linked account, which was among the evidence that supported their conclusion that Russia covertly offered bounties for killing US and coalition troops in Afghanistan.
Australia
Australian government pledges 10-year, AU$1.35 billion cyber kitty
ZDNet
@ashabeeeee
Hot on the heels of Prime Minister Scott Morrison telling the nation it was under cyber attack from an unnamed state actor, Canberra has made a AU$1.35 billion promise to Australia's security agencies.
Members of Australia's cyber security sector have reacted with a combination of cautious optimism and scepticism as the government laid out details of a $1.35 billion cash splash on new measures, pitched as bolstering national defences against virtual foreign incursions. Australian Financial Review
Australia to build larger and more aggressive military to prepare for post-pandemic disorder
ABC News
@JadeMacmillan1 @AndrewBGreene
Mr Morrison will also announce a commitment to spend $270 billion over the next decade on defence capabilities, including more potent strike weapons, cyber capabilities and a high-tech underwater surveillance system.
eSafety gets AU$10m boost to help Aussies stay safe online post-coronavirus
ZDNet
@ashabeeeee
The Office of the eSafety Commissioner has received an additional AU$10 million in funding to help it administer protections in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. Minister for Communications, Cyber Safety and the Arts Paul Fletcher said Australians have embraced a "rapid digitisation of workplaces, schools, and households" during COVID-19, which he said underpins the need for a continued focus on online safety.
NSW govt seeks input on next cyber security strategy
iTnews
@justinrhendry
The NSW government is seeking views from industry to help shape the state’s next cyber security strategy ahead of its launch later this year.
China
USA
Facebook Bans Network With ‘Boogaloo’ Ties
The New York Times
@daveyalba
People and groups associated with the decentralized movement, called boogaloo, will be banned from Facebook and Instagram, which Facebook also owns, the company said. Facebook said it had removed 220 Facebook accounts, 95 Instagram accounts, 28 pages and 106 groups as a result of the decision. It is also designating boogaloo as a dangerous organization on the social network, meaning it shares the same classification as terrorist activity, organized hate and large-scale criminal organizations on Facebook.
Exclusive: Facebook to boost news articles with original reporting in algorithm
Axios
@sarafischer
Beginning today, Facebook will be updating the way news stories are ranked in its News Feed to prioritize original reporting, executives tell Axios. It will also demote stories that aren't transparent about who has written them.
The Facebook Oversight Board: Creating an Independent Institution to Adjudicate Online Free Expression
The Yale Law Journal
@Klonick
This Feature documents the creation of the Facebook Oversight Board, an independent external body that provides appellate review of Facebook’s content-moderation decisions and policy recommendations. Should the Oversight Board gain legitimacy, it has tremendous precedential potential for democratizing private platforms’ governance of global online speech.
FCC formally declares Huawei, ZTE ‘national security threats’
Techcrunch
@zackwhittaker Devin Coldewey
The Federal Communication Commission has declared Chinese telecom giants Huawei and ZTE “national security threats,” a move that will formally ban U.S. telecom companies from using federal funds to buy and install Huawei and ZTE equipment.
Twitch Suspends Trump’s Channel for ‘Hateful Conduct’
The New York Times
@Kellen_Browning
Twitch, the livestreaming platform, said on Monday that it was suspending President Trump’s channel for “hateful conduct,” in what appeared to be the first deliberate suspension of one of Mr. Trump’s social media accounts. The site, which is owned by Amazon, said two recent streams on Mr. Trump’s channel violated its rules.
South & Central Asia
Beijing says it's 'strongly concerned' by India's decision to ban Chinese apps
CNN
@michelletoh235 @isaacyeephoto @hannaziady
Beijing is pushing back on a decision by India to ban dozens of Chinese mobile apps as tensions between the world's most populous countries continue to rise.
Americas
Huawei or Not? Brazil Faces a Key Geopolitical Choice
Americas Quarterly
@OliverStuenkel
5G technology, in short, has become a proxy for 21st global leadership, and countries around the world are debating how to position themselves. Brazil is no exception, but the combination of being one of the 5G-contest main prizes - as the world’s sixth most populous country - and being economically vulnerable and diplomatically isolated makes the decision all the more relevant for its future.
Africa
An Egyptian cyber attack on Ethiopia by hackers is the latest strike over the Grand Dam
Quartz
@ZekuZelalem
In an extension of a bilateral dispute between Ethiopia and Egypt over the $4.8 billion Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam being built on the Nile River, Egyptian hackers launched a cyber attack on a number of Ethiopian government websites over the course of the past week.
Misc
Journalists like Maria Ressa face death threats and jail for doing their jobs. Facebook must take its share of the blame
CNN
@julieposetti
UN Special Rapporteur on the right to freedom of expression, David Kaye, has previously stated that Facebook is partly responsible for the dangerous situation Ressa now finds herself in -- an assessment she agrees with. "A lot of the attacks would not have been possible without Facebook. It's enabled a normalization of violence and far-fetched narratives," Ressa said. "I've watched it splinter the Philippines."
During a pandemic, stalkerware becomes even more sinister
Cyberscoop
@shanvav
Security researchers tell CyberScoop that data show a rise in invasive surveillance software known as stalkerware - applications that can spy on partners’ texts, calls, social media use and geolocation information - since the coronavirus pandemic began, despite the fact that abusers are much more likely to be sharing the same living space as their victims.
New EvilQuest ransomware discovered targeting macOS users
ZDNet
@campuscodi
Security researchers have discovered this week a new ransomware strain targeting macOS users. Named OSX.EvilQuest, this ransomware is different from previous macOS ransomware threats because besides encrypting the victim's files, EvilQuest also installs a keylogger, a reverse shell, and steals cryptocurrency wallet-related files from infected hosts.
Research
How states could respond to non-state cyber-attackers
Clingendael
@SicovanderMeer
How could states respond to non-state cyber-attackers, especially those aiming for large-scale operations harming their societies? This Policy Brief will briefly explore the problems in dealing with non-state cyber-attackers and will offer some policy options that are available. The benefits and risks of the policy options will be discussed as well, especially from a viewpoint of escalation risks.
Jobs
Program Manager/Senior Analyst
ASPI’s International Cyber Policy Centre has an outstanding opportunity for a talented, proactive and super efficient program manager/senior analyst to join its growing centre. The successful candidate will need to have a proven track record of leading teams and experience in project management including financial and stakeholder management (which will include industry, the Australian Government, Parliament and foreign governments). To succeed in this position candidates should have exceptional communication and problem-solving skills and experience in research, policy analysis or policy development. For those applying from government - this is an EL2 role (but we are considering outstanding EL1s). Interviews are ongoing, closing date 12 July.