Israel Deploys Expansive Facial Recognition Program in Gaza | AI could take away almost 8m jobs in UK, says report | China targeted European lawmakers with cyberattacks
Good morning. It's Thursday 28th March.
The Daily Cyber & Tech Digest focuses on the topics we work on, including cybersecurity, critical technologies, foreign interference & disinformation.
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Israel's military employs facial recognition for Gaza surveillance, aiming to detect Hamas ties. Developed by Corsight and using Google Photos, it's used at checkpoints and from drone footage but has mistakenly flagged civilians. Concerns over misuse and effectiveness arise among insiders. The New York Times
The IPPR warns nearly 8 million UK jobs, especially those held by women, younger employees, and the lower-paid, could be lost to AI in a dire scenario. Entry-level and part-time roles face the highest automation risk, marking a critical juncture as companies increasingly adopt AI, potentially automating more jobs in a second wave of rapid technological advancement. The Guardian
Beijing-linked hackers targeted European politicians, aiming to gather sensitive data, affecting dozens, US prosecutors reveal. Over 1,000 emails targeted 400 accounts linked to IPAC in 2021. Although 66 EU lawmakers from various countries were potentially at risk, the European Parliament contends its members were unaffected. POLITICO
ASPI
Why cyber indictments and sanctions matter
The Strategist
Mike Bareja
On 25 March, the US and Britain attributed malicious cyber activity to a China-based hacking group backed by the Chinese government. They issued indictments and sanctions. Australia should maintain a focus on cyber sanctions and indictments, enhance international cooperation across public and private sectors and build strong coalitions to counter China’s cyber and information operations, especially those aimed at our electoral systems and social cohesion.
Australia
New complaint alleges Meta is misleading Australians over its disinformation and misinformation controls on Facebook
ABC News
Angela Lavoipierre
Meta is the subject of a formal complaint that it is misleading Australians by overstating its response to disinformation on Facebook. The complaint, lodged by global online safety researcher Reset. Tech, says there is evidence that many known falsehoods are escaping automated labelling. The complaint will be investigated to determine whether Meta has breached the Australian Code of Practice on Disinformation and Misinformation.
Fears grow Meta will block news on Facebook and Instagram as Australian government faces pressure to act
The Guardian
Josh Taylor
Publishers and politicians urge the government to mandate Meta to pay for news, as Meta threatens to limit or block news on its platforms. Meta's refusal to renew contracts underlines tensions, with the Albanese government considering designating Meta under the NMBC, potentially enforcing payment negotiations or imposing fines.
Gang dupes 30,000 Aussies with help from Meta
The Australian
David Murray
A single international fraud syndicate has duped more than 30,000 Australians out of hundreds of millions of dollars with the help of mass advertising campaigns on Facebook and other online platforms. Federal authorities were handed a database of the syndicate’s tens of thousands of Australian victims last year, but there are doubts there have been serious attempts locally to investigate, a federal cybercrime inquiry has been told.
Cyber Security NSW sees better ways to improve council security than audits
iTnews
Richard Chirgwin
Cyber Security NSW has targeted the way councils' security is assessed, seeing regular maturity and compliance audits as ineffective ways to improve security in the sector. The agency's comments came after the release of a regular audit [pdf] of a sample of councils and their cyber security postures and practices. Councils are not subject to "mandatory cyber security requirements" but are "recommended" to adhere to the NSW Cyber Security Policy "as a foundation of strong cyber security practice."
Artificial intelligence is changing the way we walk, garden, and drive in Australian cities
ABC News
Hannah Murphy
A summit held in Sydney this week will hear about the future of planning and developing Australian cities. Artificial intelligence has emerged as one of the key tools at government's disposals when it comes to planning for the future. Darwin and Melbourne have already started employing the technology, using it to guide waste management, tree-planting and even public safety.
China
Don’t meddle with our tech access, China’s Xi warns Dutch PM Rutte
POLITICO
Pieter Haeck, Stuart Lau
Chinese President Xi Jinping cautioned Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte on the dangers of creating "tech barriers" after the Netherlands imposed microchip export controls. Xi emphasized that such actions could lead to division and rivalry but stated that nothing could halt China's technological progress. He proposed increased imports from the Netherlands and enhanced cooperation in artificial intelligence and other sectors.
China and the great global AI governance divide
The Interpreter
Benjamin Herscovitch
For all the common global purpose on the need to manage the risks associated with the rapid development of Artificial Intelligence, deep fissures about how to govern this new technology are emerging between China and a range of democracies. Beijing already has at its disposal multiple means to shape how the world approaches this technological revolution.
Chinese AI companies a perfect match for domestic chipmakers
The East Asia Forum
Megha Shrivastava
Despite initially relying on US chipmaker Nvidia, Chinese enterprises are seeking domestic alternatives due to downgraded chip performance. Huawei has been identified as a major contender. The Chinese government is encouraging this shift by subsidising companies that can source locally, resulting in increasing collaboration between domestic chipmakers, producers and providers, and establishing Chinese AI companies such as Huawei and Baidu as competitive players against foreign reliance.
China’s patent figures reveal it’s closing the gap on US quantum dominance
South China Morning Post
Victoria Bela
The United States and China have pursued different strategies to develop quantum technology – China has focused on using quantum science to secure communications, while the US has sought to develop advanced computing capabilities. But the latest patent data released by China’s intellectual property office suggests Beijing may be shifting its approach in a field the US has long held a lead in.
Four things you need to know about China’s AI talent pool
MIT Technology Review
Zeyi Yang
A report in 2019 revealing a tenfold increase in elite AI scholars of Chinese origin over a decade, with most relocating to the US. An updated analysis by the same think tank now examines the evolving landscape of global AI talent during a period of significant industry shifts, marking AI as the leading technology sector.
USA
US farms are making an urgent push into AI. It could help feed the world
BBC
Sam Becker
American farmers are rapidly ploughing ahead with adopting artificial intelligence. The technology is as sophisticated as it is essential. Standing in a lush green field in the American Midwest, a farmer points his smartphone at one of his soybean plants. He snaps a photo of a pest crawling a leaf, then lets an AI-driven programme name the species of the bug, and whether it's a cause for concern. Technology like this might sound like a novelty – but it is vital.
Close to half of Americans back a ban or sale of TikTok, CNBC survey found
CNBC
Steve Liesma, Zach Vallese
Nearly half of Americans are concerned enough about TikTok being a threat to national security that they support banning the social media service or forcing a sale to a non-Chinese company, according to the latest CNBC All-America Economic Survey. But the poll also found substantial differences of opinion on the issue based on politics, age and those who use the app versus those who don’t.
North Asia
S. Korea, Japan to cooperate in developing satellite navigation system
Yonhap News
Kim Na-young
South Korea and Japan will collaborate on the development and operation of regional satellite navigation systems in East Asia, Seoul's science ministry said Tuesday. The two countries signed a memorandum of cooperation (MOC), designed for practical cooperation in developing and operating their respective satellite systems in the region, according to the Ministry of Science and ICT.
Southeast Asia
Two Chinese APT Groups Ramp Up Cyber Espionage Against ASEAN Countries
The Hacker News
Two China-linked advanced persistent threat (APT) groups have been observed targeting entities and member countries affiliated with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) as part of a cyber espionage campaign over the past three months.
Europe
China targeted European lawmakers with cyberattacks, Washington says
POLITICO
Stuart Lau and Paul De Villepin
Dozens of European lawmakers have been targeted by Chinese cyberattacks in the past few years, according to prosecutors in the United States. Late Monday, the U.S. Department of Justice issued an indictment saying that Chinese hackers with links to the national spy agency, the Ministry of State Security, targeted “every European Union member” of the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China (IPAC), a coalition of lawmakers critical of Beijing.
Finland confirms APT31 hackers behind 2021 parliament breach
Bleeping Computer
Sergiu Gatlan
The Finnish Police confirmed on Tuesday that the APT31 hacking group linked to the Chinese Ministry of State Security (MSS) was behind a breach of the country's parliament disclosed in March 2021. Since then, a joint criminal investigation with the Finnish Security and Intelligence Service and international partners has looked into multiple suspected offences, including aggravated espionage, violation of communication secrecy, and breaking into the Finnish Parliament's information systems.
Finland to host NATO tech centers, revamp cybersecurity strategy
Defense News
Gerard O'Dwyer
One of NATO’s newest members plans to build and jointly operate two research centers and an accelerator facility for the alliance as part of a program dubbed DIANA. The move comes as Finland also seeks to ramp up its defense strategy and capacity to deal with escalating cyberthreats.
Can the European union influence global standard-setting in AI?
The International Affairs
Darren Lim, Walter Brenno Colnaghi and Anthea Roberts
Technology is arguably the central terrain of geopolitical rivalry between the West and China. Technological leadership is foundational to national power, both on the battlefield and in the global economy. Competition to set global standards in AI is heating up. Can the EU’s new AI Act follow the GDPR in influencing behaviour far beyond its borders?
UK
AI ‘apocalypse’ could take away almost 8m jobs in UK, says report
The Guardian
Richard Partington
Almost 8 million UK jobs could be lost to artificial intelligence in a “jobs apocalypse”, according to a report warning that women, younger workers and those on lower wages are at most risk from automation. The Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) said that entry level, part-time and administrative jobs were most exposed to being replaced by AI under a “worst-case scenario” for the rollout of new technologies in the next three to five years.
Tackling deepfakes 'has turned into an arms race'
BBC
Jane Wakefield
Louise Bruder never forgets a face. Which is not only a handy skill at parties but has helped her carve out a career. She has the fabulous job title of super-recogniser, and her work at UK digital ID firm Yoti involves comparing the photos on an identity document with an uploaded selfie, to determine if it is the same person. She says that no matter how good AI gets at fighting deepfakes, there will always be a need for human checkers like herself. "Providing a human check is a requirement for many businesses... and we don't expect that to change as it gives businesses extra confidence."
Hackers obtain patient data from NHS Dumfries and Galloway
The Guardian
PA Media
A hacker group is in possession of at least a “small number” of patients’ data after a cyber-attack, NHS Dumfries and Galloway has said. Reports emerged on Wednesday of a post by the group Inc Ransom on its darknet blog, alleging it had three terabytes of data from NHS Scotland, although the Scottish government said the incident had been contained to the one health board.
Princess Catherine cancer video spawns fresh round of AI conspiracies
The Washington Post
Tatum Hunter
When Catherine, Princess of Wales, released a video statement last week sharing that she had been diagnosed with cancer, some users on social media said they regretted engaging in wild speculation about her prolonged public absence. But others jumped immediately to a new conspiracy: The video was generated by artificial intelligence.
Middle East
Israel deploys expansive facial recognition program in Gaza
The New York Times
Sheera Frenkel
Israel's military intelligence, using Corsight technology and Google Photos, conducts mass surveillance in Gaza, aiming to identify Hamas militants but sometimes misidentifying civilians. The initiative, initially for locating hostages, has broadened during the ground offensive to target those linked to militant groups.
Big Tech
Facebook snooped on users’ Snapchat traffic in secret project, documents reveal
TechCrunch
Lorenzo Franceschi-Bicchierai
In 2016, Facebook launched a secret project designed to intercept and decrypt the network traffic between people using Snapchat’s app and its servers. The goal was to understand users’ behavior and help Facebook compete with Snapchat, according to newly unsealed court documents. Facebook called this “Project Ghostbusters,” in a clear reference to Snapchat’s ghost-like logo.
A pivot to China saved Elon Musk. It also binds him to Beijing.
The New York Times
Mara Hvistendahl, Jack Ewing and John Liu
Tesla and China built a symbiotic relationship, with credits, workers and parts that made Mr. Musk ultrarich. Now, his reliance on the country may give Beijing leverage. For Chinese leaders, the prize was a Tesla factory on domestic soil. Mr. Musk would build one in Shanghai that would become a flagship, accounting for over half of Tesla’s global deliveries and the bulk of its profits.
New Gmail & M365 Warning As 2FA Security Bypass Hack Confirmed
Forbes
Davey Winder
The developers of a notorious 2FA account security bypass tool have launched an updated version of their ‘as-a-service’ kit that is targeting Microsoft 365 and Gmail account holders. Researchers from the Sekoia Threat Detection and Research team have published an in-depth analysis of Tycoon 2FA, a notorious adversary-in-the-middle kit, that is being distributed via cybercrime forums and marketplaces with versions tailored to both Gmail and Microsoft 365 user attacks.
Amazon invests an additional $2.75 billion in AI startup anthropic
The Wall Street Journal
Joseph Pisani
Amazon.com said it has invested an additional $2.75 billion in the artificial intelligence startup Anthropic, a major investment from a tech giant looking to compete with Microsoft, Google and others in the AI arms race. Amazon has now invested a total of $4 billion in Anthropic after making a $1.25 billion initial investment in the company in September. The company said at the time that it could invest up to $4 billion. Amazon said it has a minority ownership position in Anthropic.
How long before quantum computers can benefit society? That’s Google’s US$5 million question
The Conversation
Adam Lowe
Google and the XPrize Foundation have initiated a $5 million competition to innovate societal-beneficial applications for quantum computers, focusing on accelerating UN Sustainable Development Goals. This effort represents a leap towards a new industrial revolution by transitioning from classical physics-based devices to those exploiting quantum mechanics' unique capabilities.
Amazon loses EU court bid to delay digital rules on online ads
POLITICO
Clothilde Goujard
Amazon lost a legal bid to delay obeying part of the European Union's new content moderation law. The U.S. online marketplace had claimed that the Digital Services Act (DSA)'s requirement to make its online advertisement library publicly available would hurt its fundamental rights to privacy and the freedom to conduct a business.
Artificial Intelligence
Companies are seeking real-world supply-chain gains in new AI tools
The Wall Street Journal
Liz Young
Companies growing more comfortable with artificial intelligence are bringing the latest tools into their supply chains, with goals of cutting costs, speeding up distribution and getting ahead of potential disruptions. Logistics firms are targeting cost savings and faster and more efficient deliveries as they incorporate generative AI into operations.
Misc
Are we ignoring the cybersecurity risks of undersea internet cables?
The Hackernoon
Zac Amos
Toppled power lines catalyze fires and electrical injuries amid an already upsetting hurricane. Natural disaster recovery is expensive and time-consuming, as its ferocity makes operations more complex. The time for resilient, modern infrastructure is now and that is visible in the planet’s extensive network of underwater cables.
Research
Preparing for a digital battlefield: national security and cryptocurrency
The Cipher Brief
Lieutenant General Michael Groen and Ari Redbord
The modern battlefield has seen a transformation in the visibility of military and intelligence operations. To be “seen” or “not seen” is often the differentiator between success and failure, driving operations into the shadows. Increasingly, the same is true for transnational crime, illicit payments, sanctions-busting and criminal activity.
Events & Podcasts
The Sydney Dialogue
ASPI
The Sydney Dialogue was created to help bring together governments, businesses and civil society to discuss and progress policy options. We will forecast the technologies of the next decade that will change our societies, economies and national security, prioritising speakers and delegates who are willing to push the envelope. We will promote diverse views that stimulate real conversations about the best ways to seize opportunities and minimise risks.
Jobs
ASPI Northern Australia Strategic Policy Centre (NASPC) Administration Officer
ASPI
This role also works across the Head of the NASPC's alternate policy centres, the Strategic Policing and Law Enforcement Program, involving work across illicit drugs, illicit finance, transnational serious organised crime, and modern slavery, and ASPI’s Counter-terrorism Policy Centre. The successful applicant will have the chance to assist with coordinating a project in the first half of 2024 focused on northern Australia's connections with Pacific Island Countries, liaising with senior Government and international representatives. The closing date for applications is 29 March 2024– an early application is advised as we reserve the right to close the vacancy early if suitable applications are received.
Director of Cyber, Technology & Security (CTS)
ASPI
ASPI is looking for an exceptional and experienced leader to lead our largest team focused on emerging security challenges, particularly in cyberspace and the information domain. Director CTS leads ASPI’s largest team to develop and deliver a range of applied research projects on existing and emerging security challenges. CTS’ projects range across cyber and critical infrastructure security, critical and emerging technologies, national resilience and social cohesion, and hybrid threats. The closing date for applications is 22 April 2024 – an early application is advised as we reserve the right to close the vacancy early if suitable applications are received.
China Analyst or Senior Analyst
ASPI
ASPI has an exciting opportunity for an analyst or senior analyst to explore China's evolving foreign and security policy, political economy and impact on the Indo-Pacific and the world. ASPI’s China analysts conduct rigorous data-driven research, publish impactful reports that shape the public policy discourse and contribute to the wide catalogue of influential China work published by ASPI. The difference between the analyst and senior analyst levels will depend on experience level and demonstration of past work. The closing date for applications is 10 May 2024– an early application is advised as we reserve the right to close the vacancy early if suitable applications are received.
The Daily Cyber & Tech Digest is brought to you by the Cyber, Technology & Security team at ASPI.