Twitter bans all political ads | FB removes Africa accounts linked to Russian troll factory | North Korean malware found on Indian nuclear plant's network
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Twitter is to ban all political advertising worldwide, saying that the reach of such messages "should be earned, not bought". The Age
Facebook announced Wednesday that it had removed a trio of networks from its platforms promoting content targeting users in nine African countries. The company says the networks have links to Yevgeniy Prigozhin, the Russian oligarch indicted by U.S. prosecutors over interfering in the 2016 presidential election. Mother Jones
The network of one of India's nuclear power plants was infected with malware created by North Korea's state-sponsored hackers, the Nuclear Power Corporation of India Ltd (NPCIL) confirmed today. ZDNet
ASPI ICPC
NEW ASPI ICPC report examines deepening Sino-Russian technology ties as US tensions mount
China and Russia have not only expanded military cooperation but are also undertaking more extensive technological cooperation, including in 5G, new media, artificial intelligence (AI), robotics, biotechnology & the digital economy.
The latest policy report by ASPI’s International Cyber Policy Centre - A new Sino-Russian high-tech partnership: Authoritarian innovation in an era of great-power rivalry authored by Russian specialist Samuel Bendett and China specialist Elsa Kania - maps out the unique ecosystem underpinning expanding technology cooperation between Moscow and Beijing.
Ironclad: Forging a New Future for America’s Alliances
CSIS
ASPI ICPC Head Fergus Hanson contributed Chapter 8 ‘What Are the Implications of Cyber for Alliances?‘ to this CSIS paper:
At a time when many alliances are being called into question, this volume considers the present and historical realities of the global U.S. alliance network. Ironclad contributes to the scholarly, political, and policy debate on alliance theory, examining the theoretical underpinnings of why states align, the effects of nuclear weapons on alliance alignment, and the implications of the cyber domain for alliances. Ironclad further informs the reader on the practice of alliance management in the twenty-first century, with studies of the U.S. alliance system in Asia and Europe. Sure to be of use to scholars, students, and policy practitioners alike, Ironclad is a definitive examination of the value and role of alliances in the twenty-first century..Fergus Hanson closes the mechanics section of essays with an examination of the impact on alliances from cyber—from supply chain security to gray zone coercion and the challenges of defining offense and defense - suggesting why this domain will consume alliance coordination in the years to come.
Investigation reveals disinformation campaigns on Papuan issues
The Jakarta Post
@kkahfi106
A recent digital forensic investigation has revealed that multiple attempts have taken place in the digital world to manipulate the narrative about the protests and riots in the Papua and West Papua provinces in favor of the Indonesian government. The joint investigation, launched by the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) and the Australian Strategic Policy Institute (ASPI), found at least two online influence campaigns had been “disseminating pro-Indonesian government material on the issue of West Papua”.
Apple goes full bore into 5G phones
Financial Times
China and Russia are forging an increasingly deep high-tech partnership, say Samuel Bendett and Elsa Kania in this report for the Australian Strategic Policy Institute (ASPI) think-tank. The countries have signed an agreement on shared innovation. Such moves seem particularly pronounced in military fields, with Russia planning to aid China in developing a missile defence warning system.
World
This is about paying for reach': Twitter bans all political advertisements
The Age
@rachelerman @barbaraortutay
Twitter chief Jack Dorsey announced the news, saying social media companies give advertisers an unfair advantage in proliferating highly targeted, misleading messages.
Related: Read the Letter Facebook Employees Sent to Mark Zuckerberg About Political Ads The New York Times
Australia
Australian Signals Directorate reports breaches on spying, wire taps
The Guardian
@Paul_Karp
The Australian Signals Directorate has disclosed legal breaches including cases of failing to get ministerial authorisation before producing intelligence on Australians and intercepting communications without a warrant. The annual reports of the ASD and the Inspector-General of Intelligence and Security reveal the intelligence and cybersecurity agency has “reported three confirmed breaches of legislation and two potential breaches of legislation to IGIS” in the last financial year.
Man charged with mall, telco cyber attack
AAP
@ChristineMc6
A man has been charged with a cyber attack on a telecommunications business and large shopping complex, in crimes which police say span the past five months.
China
NPCSC Passes Cryptography Law, Grants State Supervision Commission Rulemaking Power & Approves New Free Trade Zone Pilots
NPC Observer
Changhao Wei
The Cryptography Law marks a new step both in strengthening China’s national security regime and in furthering the government’s ongoing efforts to cut red tape.
Patent king Huawei lags Intel and Qualcomm in quality, study finds
Nikkei Asian Review
Chinese telecom equipment maker Huawei Technologies, a symbol of high-tech competition between the U.S. and China, had more patent applications than any other global company in 2018. But a closer look at its filings suggests the company still trails American rivals in terms of patent quality.
USA
A Cybersecurity Firm’s Sharp Rise and Stunning Collapse
The New Yorker
@raffiwriter
Tiversa dominated an emerging online market—before it was accused of fraud, extortion, and manipulating the federal government.
Opinion | Russians are meddling in the Democratic primary. Is anyone paying attention?
The Washington Post
Despite all the study of state-sponsored disinformation over the past three years, we still have little knowledge of how a foreign influence operation might affect a crowded and contentious intra-party contest. There is a real danger that Russian interference — and the suspicion of Russian interference — will hang over the primary like a storm cloud, poisoning debate and infuriating progressive activists. It will also offer political ammunition to President Trump, who will use all the instruments of government to exploit it.
Southeast Asia
Singapore expands test site for autonomous vehicles
ZDNet
@eileenscyu
All of the island's western area now has been designated a trial site for autonomous vehicles, spanning more than 1,000km of public roads, as the government looks to address industry calls for a more varied test environment.
South Asia
Confirmed: North Korean malware found on Indian nuclear plant's network
ZDNet
@campuscodi
The network of one of India's nuclear power plants was infected with malware created by North Korea's state-sponsored hackers, the Nuclear Power Corporation of India Ltd (NPCIL) confirmed today.
Middle East
NSO's Spying Contract Doesn't Limit Use of its Hacking Tools to Terrorism and Crime
VICE
@josephfcox
The contract may be incomplete, but one included with WhatsApp’s lawsuit doesn’t tell NSO customers to limit hacking to prevent terrorism or serious crime.
Africa
Facebook Removes Over a Hundred Russia-Linked Accounts and Pages Targeting African Countries
Mother Jones
@AJVicens
Facebook announced Wednesday that it had removed a trio of networks from its platforms promoting content targeting users in nine African countries. The company says the networks have links to Yevgeniy Prigozhin, the Russian oligarch indicted by U.S. prosecutors over interfering in the 2016 presidential election. The operation illustrates how the Kremlin’s playbook on election interference and political meddling is evolving and adaptable.
The Stanford Internet Observatory investigation the prompted Facebook’s announcement.
Twitter threads by co-authors Renee DiResta & Shelby Grossman:
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