NEW REPORT: Automating influence operations on Covid-19 | US Gov exposes malware used in Chinese hacking efforts | Trump reverses course on TikTok, opening door to Microsoft bid
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Automating influence on Covid-19 looks at how Chinese-speaking actors are attempting to target US-based audiences on Facebook and Twitter across key narratives including amplifying criticisms of the US’s handling of Covid-19, emphasising racial divisions, and political and personal scandals linked to President Donald Trump. ASPI ICPC
The Chinese government has been using malware, referred to as Taidoor, to target government agencies, entities in the private sector, and think tanks since 2008, according to a joint announcement from the Department of Homeland Security’s Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, the Department of Defense, and the FBI. Cyber Scoop
President Trump gave the go-ahead for Microsoft to pursue an acquisition of TikTok, in his first public comments about the popular Chinese-owned video app after he had threatened to ban it from the United States entirely. The New York Times
ASPI ICPC
Covid-19 Disinformation & Social Media Manipulation: Automating influence operations on Covid-19: Chinese speaking actors targeting US audiences
ASPI ICPC
A range of actors are manipulating the information environment to exploit the Covid-19 crisis for strategic gain. ASPI’s International Cyber Policy Centre is tracking many of these state and non-state actors online, and will occasionally publish investigative, data-driven reporting that will focus on the use of disinformation, propaganda, extremist narratives and conspiracy theories by these actors.
This new report investigates a campaign of cross-platform inauthentic activity that relies on a high-degree of automation and is broadly in alignment with the political goal of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) to denigrate the standing of the US.
Australia
Aged care operator's sensitive data stolen in foreign cyber attack
The Sydney Morning Herald
@MsEmmaK
ASX-listed aged care operator Regis has been hit by an international cyber attack that has led to the release of sensitive personal data, adding to the woes of the company which is battling a coronavirus outbreak at one of its Melbourne centres.
Genomic sleuths track the true origins of COVID-19 infections
Financial Review
@tburton
Victoria is using world-leading genomic fingerprinting techniques to track infections and better identify cluster sources and super spreaders.
ACCC fights for small business as big tech battle heats up
Financial Review
@SaysSmithy
Australian competition and consumer regulatory boss Rod Sims has called for new laws to better police unfair behaviour by big technology platforms towards smaller businesses, as he rejected Google's criticism of his proposed new media code of conduct as typical behaviour of an incumbent giant.
Microsoft buying TikTok would allay Australia's security concerns
The Sydney Morning Herald
@carawaters @ErykBagshaw
Australian competition and consumer regulatory boss Rod Sims has called for new laws to better police unfair behaviour by big technology platforms towards smaller businesses, as he rejected Google's criticism of his proposed new media code of conduct as typical behaviour of an incumbent giant.
The sinister 'chain of influence' that drives conspiracy theories is working overtime on COVID-19
ABC News
@arielbogle
Fringe ideas about 5G are baked in the internet's darker corners. But as the world has gone into lockdown, they have found their way into the mainstream and risk endangering public health.
UNSW warned over free speech after Hong Kong controversy
The Sydney Morning Herald
@fergushunter @ErykBagshaw
UNSW's decision to remove social media posts about the erosion of human rights in Hong Kong has attracted a warning from Education Minister Dan Tehan, who said universities should prize free speech as a pillar of Australian democracy.
China
DOD, FBI, DHS release info on malware used in Chinese government-led hacking campaigns
Cyber Scoop
@shanvav
The U.S. government publicly put forth information Monday that exposed malware used in Chinese government hacking efforts for more than a decade. The Chinese government has been using malware, referred to as Taidoor, to target government agencies, entities in the private sector, and think tanks since 2008.
Apple Faces $1.4 Billion Lawsuit in China in Siri Patent Fight
The Wall Street Journal
@lizalinwsj
A Shanghai company that was recently awarded a Chinese patent for a voice assistant similar to Apple Inc.’s Siri has filed a patent-infringement lawsuit against Apple that, if successful, could prevent the American tech giant from selling many of its products in its most important market outside the US.
Apple faces protests after censoring for China
Reclaim the Net
Tom Parker
Tibetans, Uyghurs, and other activists held a protest outside Apple’s flagship store in the Carnegie Library, Washington DC this week to protest Apple’s censorship at the behest of the Chinese Communist Party and call for the company to protect free speech and human rights.
Zoom to stop direct sales in China
SupChina
Owen Matthews
Starting on August 23, Chinese consumers will no longer be able to directly purchase Zoom services. Instead, they will have to access the company’s video call services through local partners that utilize Zoom technology, according to a company announcement.
USA
Trump Reverses Course on TikTok, Opening Door to Microsoft Bid
The New York Times
@AnaSwanson @MikeIsaac
The president said he did not object to a potential acquisition of the Chinese-owned app, retreating from comments about banning the service.
How TikTok’s Owner Tried, and Failed, to Cross the U.S.-China Divide The New York Times
Microsoft’s Talks to Buy TikTok’s U.S. Operations Raise Ire in China The Wall Street Journal
Trump calls TikTok a hot brand, demands a chunk of its sale price Tech Crunch
From Minecraft Tricks to Twitter Hack: A Florida Teen’s Troubled Online Path
The New York Times
@nathanielpopper @kateconger @Kellen_Browning
The teenage “mastermind” of the recent Twitter breach, who had a difficult family life, poured his energy into video games and cryptocurrency.
Another fake Pelosi video goes viral on Facebook
CNN
@donie
Facebook's fact-checkers on Sunday labeled as "partly false" a video that it said was manipulated to make it appear as if House Speaker Nancy Pelosi was drunk or drugged. The video had been circulating on Facebook since Thursday and by Sunday night had been viewed more than 2 million times.
This YouTuber is Now Selling ThermoHealth Temperature Screening
IPVM
@JoeyDavidWalter
An enterprising 20-year old is mass marketing medical devices on Facebook and Instagram, selling the K3 at a ~600% markup.
Ransomware feared as possible saboteur for November election
Associated Press
@etuckerAP @AP_Christina @fbajak
Federal authorities say one of the gravest threats to the November election is a well-timed ransomware attack that could paralyze voting operations. The threat isn’t just from foreign governments, but any fortune-seeking criminal.
South Asia
India’s decision to check the power of Chinese tech should be followed by other democracies
The Washington Post
@bussindelhi
The weaponization of information is real. It could compromise millions of unsuspecting citizens using Chinese platforms.
UK
Papers leaked before UK election in suspected Russian operation were hacked from ex-trade minister
Reuters
@GuyReuters @jc_stubbs
Classified U.S.-UK trade documents leaked ahead of Britain’s 2019 election were stolen from the email account of former trade minister Liam Fox by suspected Russian hackers, two sources with direct knowledge of the matter told Reuters.
PM risks major row with Trump after allowing Chinese app TikTok a London HQ
The Sun
@MrHarryCole
Ministers have approved the investment, due to be revealed next week, from the owners of the controversial Chinese app.
Europe
EU digital protectionism risks damaging ties with the US
Financial Times
European regulators have taken aggressive action against US technology companies for years, levying or threatening billions of euros in fines on Intel, Microsoft, Facebook, Google, Qualcomm and Amazon. These actions now look to be only the opening salvo. Over recent months, EU leaders have unveiled an ambitious agenda aimed at limiting US technology under the banner of securing European “digital sovereignty”.
Africa
Meet DPO Group: The Pan-African Fintech Company Powering Digital Commerce, Acquired For $288 Million In Watershed Deal For African Tech
Forbes
@TommyASC91
For Africa to reach its full potential it needs infrastructure and an ecosystem that allows businesses to thrive. A critical part of this infrastructure in the digital age is technology that gives businesses the ability to accept electronic payments such as mobile money, credit cards, virtual cards, instant bank transfers and QR codes seamlessly.
Misc
This Tool Could Protect Your Photos From Facial Recognition
The New York Times
@kashhill
Researchers at the University of Chicago want you to be able to post selfies without worrying that the next Clearview AI will use them to identify you.
Announcing the Release of GreatFire Appmaker
GreatFire
@GreatFireChina
GreatFire, a China-focused censorship monitoring organization, is proud to announce that we have developed and released a new anti-censorship tool that will enable any blocked media outlet, blogger, human rights group, or civil society organization to evade censors and get their content onto the phones of millions of readers and supporters in China and other countries that censor the Internet.
Research
Nothing Sacred: Religious and Secular Voices for Reform in Togo Targeted with NSO Spyware
The Citizen Lab
@jsrailton @sienaanstis @SharlyChan @billmarczak
This Research Note identifies NSO Spyware targeting in Togo originating from the 2019 WhatsApp incident.
Institutional Roadblocks to the Defense Department’s Adoption of AI
CNAS
@megan_lamberth @MartijnRasser
As a general-purpose technology analogous to electricity or the internal combustion engine, AI can be particularly transformational for the Department of Defense, enabling new capabilities in areas as varied as warfighting, logistics and maintenance, command and control, surveillance, intelligence collection and analysis, and healthcare