FTC calls for breakup of Facebook | BioNTech/Pfizer data accessed in cyberattack on EU medicines agency | Xinjiang data platform deems people suspicious by association
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The Federal Trade Commission and more than 40 states accused Facebook on Wednesday of becoming a social media monopoly by buying up its rivals to illegally squash competition and said the deals that turned the social network into a behemoth should be unwound. The New York Times
U.S. drugmaker Pfizer and its German partner BioNTech said on Wednesday that documents related to their development of a COVID-19 vaccine had been “unlawfully accessed” in a cyberattack on Europe’s medicines regulator. Reuters
A big data platform helped Chinese authorities in Xinjiang to identify individuals deemed suspicious by association that facilitated mass detention of Muslims in the region, a leaked government document has shown. Financial Times
ASPI ICPC
Tweetstorm shows China aims to project power through provocation
The Strategist
@AlbertYZhang @arielbogle @JakeWallis_ASPI
The activity surrounding this tweet and on Morrison’s own Twitter account provides a snapshot of how the Chinese Communist Party’s approach to information management as a vehicle for the projection of state power plays out online. It also highlights the challenge for Australia’s own statecraft.
Australia
U.S. and Australia partner to develop virtual cyber training range
FedScoop
Sarah Wilson
The United States and Australia entered an agreement in November to continuously develop a virtual cyber training range together, U.S. Cyber Command announced Friday. The Cyber Training Capabilities Project Arrangement, valued at a bit over $215 million for six years, will incorporate feedback from the Australian Defence Force (ADF) into the Persistent Cyber Training Environment (PCTE), Cyber Command’s simulated training domain. It is expected to improve personnel readiness in cyber warfighting.
Cybersecurity experts make case for ‘national interest strategy’
The Mandarin
@shannjenkins7
Australia must lead from the centre in order to effectively address cybersecurity challenges, according to one of Australia’s top cybersecurity experts, Michelle Price.
Why Australia needs a total national interest strategy
The Australian Financial Review
@Rory_Medcalf @Mich11775
Cyberspace is key to national security – but it is much more than this, the connector and enabler across all aspects of national interest. Digital capability underpins the pursuit and achievement of security and that of economic prosperity and enduring positive social impact. Trust is core. This is the mechanism through which we find the right, flexible balance between humans and technology to pursue our nation's interests. It is one of the central values of our relationship with digital technologies.
China
Xinjiang data platform deems people suspicious by association
Financial Times
A big data platform helped Chinese authorities in Xinjiang to identify individuals deemed suspicious by association that facilitated mass detention of Muslims in the region, a leaked government document has shown.
China: Big Data Program Targets Xinjiang’s Muslims Human Rights Watch
Tripadvisor's app, and more than 100 others, have just been blocked in China
CNN
@michelletoh235
China says it has pulled Tripadvisor (TRIP) from mobile app stores in the country as the government embarks on a fresh bid to "clean up" the internet. In a statement Tuesday, the Cyberspace Administration of China said it had removed 105 apps it considered to be "illegal," including that of the US travel giant.
The AI Girlfriend Seducing China’s Lonely Men
Sixth Tone
Zhang Wanqing
As China’s lonely men pour their hearts out to their virtual girlfriend, some experts are raising the alarm. Though Xiaoice insists it has systems in place to protect its users, critics say the AI’s growing influence — especially among vulnerable social groups — is creating serious ethical and privacy risks.
USA
U.S. and States Say Facebook Illegally Crushed Competition
The New York Times
@ceciliakang @MikeIsaac
The Federal Trade Commission and more than 40 states accused Facebook on Wednesday of becoming a social media monopoly by buying up its rivals to illegally squash competition, and said the deals that turned the social network into a behemoth should be unwound. Federal and state regulators, who have been investigating the company for over 18 months, said in separate lawsuits that Facebook’s purchases, especially Instagram for $1 billion in 2012 and WhatsApp for $19 billion two years later, eliminated competition that could have one day challenged the company’s dominance.
FTC Sues Facebook for Illegal Monopolization Federal Trade Commission
Facebook's Next Trick Is to Turn WhatsApp Into a Real Business
Bloomberg
@KurtWagner8
While the app makes relatively little money now, Facebook sees private messaging as the foundation for its next big business, presenting it with one of its biggest challenges, even if the antitrust scrutiny doesn’t complicate matters.
Google CEO pledges to investigate exit of top AI ethicist
Axios
@inafried
Google CEO Sundar Pichai apologized Wednesday for the company's handling of the departure of AI ethics researcher Timnit Gebru and said he would investigate the events and work to restore trust, according to an internal memo sent companywide and obtained by Axios.
YouTube will now remove videos disputing Joe Biden’s election victory
The Verge
@kellymakena
On Wednesday, YouTube announced that it will begin removing any content alleging widespread voter fraud influenced the outcome of the 2020 US presidential election.
Europe
BioNTech says COVID-19 vaccine data 'unlawfully accessed' in cyberattack on EU regulator
Reuters
@jc_stubbs
U.S. drugmaker Pfizer and its German partner BioNTech said on Wednesday that documents related to their development of a COVID-19 vaccine had been “unlawfully accessed” in a cyberattack on Europe’s medicines regulator.
Germany blocks Chinese takeover of satellite firm on security concerns: document
Reuters
@mcnienaber
Germany has blocked the takeover of satellite and radar technology firm IMST by a subsidiary of state-controlled missile maker China Aerospace and Industry Group (CASIC) due to national security concerns, a government document showed on Tuesday.
How Huawei hooked Greek telcos
Technode
@egreechee
Based on ten interviews with industry insiders and regulators, TechNode tells the story of how Huawei established itself in the Greek market—and how the tables have turned for the Chinese telco giant. This is the first part of a three-part series.
Russia
Russia's FireEye Hack Is a Statement—but Not a Catastrophe
WIRED
@lilyhnewman
FireEye has built its reputation on defending high-stakes clients from hackers. Today, the cybersecurity firm acknowledged that it had itself been the victim of a breach—and that the attackers made off with some of its offensive tools. It's a startling admission but almost certainly not as devastating as it may first sound.
The Americas
Revealed: The Israelis Making Millions Selling Cyberweapons to Latin America
Haaretz
@amitaiz
The middlemen serving as conduits in arms and cyber deals are an elite group with massive networks. They are key to selling Israeli tech in the Americas. This is the story of two of them.
Middle East
Hackers leverage Facebook, Dropbox to spy on Egypt, Palestinians
CyberScoop
@snlyngaas
An Arabic-speaking hacking group that’s used phishing emails laden with sensational headlines focused on the Middle East to spy on government officials is leveraging recent diplomatic activity to conduct espionage.
Misc
Data Governance Top of Mind for Tech Policy Chiefs
The Information
On Thursday, The Information hosted a roundtable on what's next in tech regulation with PwC. Here's what was top of mind for our attendees, who included the heads of policy at a dozen tech companies.
Behind the Paper That Led to a Google Researcher’s Firing
WIRED
@tsimonite
Timnit Gebru was one of seven authors on a study that examined prior research on training artificial intelligence models to understand language.
Twitch is rolling out new rules around harassment and hate
Endgadget
@JessConditt
Twitch has unveiled a new, more detailed policy on hateful conduct and harassment, and the fresh rules are scheduled to go into effect on January 22nd. The delay is designed to give streamers and audience members time to digest the changes and adjust their behavior accordingly, if need be.
Research
China: Big Data Program Targets Xinjiang’s Muslims
Human Rights Watch
A big data program for policing in China’s Xinjiang region arbitrarily selects Turkic Muslims for possible detention, Human Rights Watch said today. A leaked list of over 2,000 detainees from Aksu prefecture provided to Human Rights Watch is further evidence of China’s use of technology in its repression of the Muslim population.
Rethinking Export Controls: Unintended Consequences and the New Technological Landscape
CNAS
@MartijnRasser
Export controls can be a formidable tool to protect technological advantage and to deter illiberal and dangerous use of technologies. Used properly for their intended purpose—to affect the military potential of a foreign country, to advance major foreign policy objectives, or to fulfill international obligations—export controls can bolster U.S. national security.