Eveline Ruehlin

As the US #elections2024 draws near, the threat of #election interference by foreign #intelligence agencies, such as #Russia's and #China's, grows higher. It's a good time to reexamine why #activemeasures by foreign adversaries has become at the forefront of the concerns about election integrity. To understand how we got to this point, The Washington Outsider #Report on Coalition Radio hosts the author Peter Grant Jr, whose book examines the #corruption of the US #democracy and provides intriguing insights and surprising conclusions. The book relies on a plethora of open sources to examine the role of #Russia's interference in recent years, including their interest in the #Trump campaign, and we spend a great deal of time examining Donald Trump's early ties to Russian organized crime, his fixation on building a Trump tower in Moscow - and how these issues led to a pattern that created an opening for Russian #Propaganda and manipulation. We also look at the cast of characters in the milieu of the campaign and the political scene circa 2016, and also go through the Senate #Intelligence Report findings on the extent of the Russian interference which was largely ignored both by those who quickly dismissed the infiltration of the Trump campaign as a hoax, and those who believed in a giant conspiracy between all of the Republican Party and the #Kremlin. We also discuss the angles for future investigation: examining #Russia's interference in the US since 2016, interviews with #Trump campaign members and future officials for their perspective, and filling in the missing gaps which escaped partisan scrutiny in the heat of the moment at the time. This is a fascinating discussion and read both for the supporters and detractors of #Trump. #politics #activemeasures #intelligence #counterintelligence #Sanctions #nationalsecurity #economy #business #organizedcrime #racketeering #realestate #casinos #espionage #informationwarfare #propaganda #disinformation #GOP #Republicans #Democrats #Clinton #lawandorder #societyandculture #foreignpolicy #foreignaffairs #diplomacy #geopolitics

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#Films produced under #authoritarian regimes are treasure troves of insight into national information environments and regime (dis)information strategy and tactics. Chinese #propaganda blockbusters are no exception, and some formal analysis on the Deft9 Solutions, Inc. blog demonstrates how we can use foreign film to shape our own strategy and tactics: https://lnkd.in/ey-ST9g7

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Is Elon Musk spreading false information on X (formerly Twitter) a "no big deal", especially when he has so many followers? In one specific case, Mr Musk shared a false claim that FEMA was blocking aid shipments during storms in Florida. This plays into a broader conspiracy theory about the "deep state", which Trump and his supporters often attack. Disinformation undermines trust in government and spreads quickly through social media. FEMA tried to counter rumours with a rumour response page, but it was interpreted as a cover-up. False posts about Storm Helene had been viewed 160 million times before the storm even reached Florida. AI and the spread of false information could make future elections uncertain, both in the US and Europe. Should we be concerned about whether Swedish politicians are prepared to deal with similar disinformation? Can US voters stop Trump and Musk from creating an 'Orwellian' future? #Trump #desinformation #Musk #elonmusk https://lnkd.in/gSPM22QM

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📑 New Article: 'Shades of authoritarian digital sovereignty: divergences in Russian and Chinese data localisation regimes' by Liliya Khasanova and Katharin Tai Russia and China are often held up as the archetypal actors propagating an  authoritarian, state-centric model for internet governance – with their respective approaches frequently presented as a shared Sino-Russian model for cyber sovereignty. In their paper, Khasanova and Tai examine whether this narrative of a shared model is reflected in both countries’ approaches towards governing domestic data flows. By conducting the first systematic comparison of data localization regulations and policies in China and Russia, Khasanova and Tai show that, contrary to common perceptions, there are actually substantial differences in the nature, methods and motivations that characterize the two countries’ data sovereignty regimes. This article will be featured in our upcoming special issue exploring cross-border data sharing! #CyberPolicy #DigitalSovereignty #DataLocalisation #DataSharing https://lnkd.in/ewx2rCNQ

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David M. Luna 🦏 🌎 🐘 Threat Convergence ≜ Kine-Dynamics quoted in latest report by award-winning investigative journalist Sam Cooper on "Ports, Fentanyl, Corruption: Beijing's Triad of threats to the United States" (Unheeded Warnings: The Bureau investigates Canadian intelligence on the causes of opioids pouring into North America). The Bureau asked David Luna, a former U.S. Department of State official, if McAdam’s focus on Hutchison and Chinese-controlled ports could shed light on the fentanyl trade examined now by U.S. agencies. Luna is executive director of an NGO, International Coalition Against Illicit Economies (ICAIE) / ICAIE Labs, that briefs national security leaders on emerging threats, and malign influence, from hostile states including China and Iran that leverage illicit financial networks in Canada and Latin America. Luna couldn’t comment on specific intelligence from McAdam’s 1990s-era reporting, but in a written response confirmed Beijing’s influence in Western ports is concerning. "It is true that most of the fentanyl and the fentanyl precursors in Mexico are not only sourced to China, but arrive in the hemisphere through ports where, in some cases, the PRC either has control or partial control of the port operations, or exert their corruptive influence, and with help from some of China's diasporic proxies, criminal Triads, and complicit enablers (e.g., Mexican cartels) that facilitate such cross-border illicit trade and related money laundering." *** A report from Dr. Evan Ellis of U.S. Army War College says trade between China and Mexico is central to the fentanyl crisis that killed over 100,000 Americans in 2023. Hutchison Whampoa has operated major ports in Mexico since the 1990s, where the Sinaloa cartel partners with Sun Yee On and 14K Triads to import fentanyl precursors from Wuhan, the report says. “Many of those drugs and precursors are brought in through Mexican ports operated by the Chinese company Hutchison,” it says. As US Congress launches investigations into Chinese Communist Party involvement in fentanyl trafficking and money laundering with Mexican cartels, McAdam’s reporting on Hutchison Whampoa and his suspicions about Beijing’s corruptive influence in North American politics look increasingly relevant. https://lnkd.in/erTwnH63 U.S. Department of Homeland Security Drug Enforcement Administration Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) United States Department of Defense Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) | Service canadien du renseignement de sécurité (SCRS) Royal Canadian Mounted Police | Gendarmerie royale du Canada Calvin Chrustie LLM #maligninflence #hybridwarfare #China #organizedcrime #triads #fentanyl #illicittrade #corruption #moneylaundering #ports #trade #maritimesecurity #FTZs #Ottawa #Toronto #Vancouver #Montreal

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#Denmark seeks to stop #shadowtankerfleet carrying #Russianoil 👁️Reuters Ghttps://lnkd.in/gEBMqVjq 👁️Windward Report UPDATED: Illuminating Russia’s Shadow Fleet Windward’s Maritime AI™ platform identified a three-tiered system of vessels to paint a more accurate picture of Russian oil smuggling: #Clearedfleet – tankers not exhibiting any suspicious conduct, such as flag hopping or irregular ownership structure….[…] #Grayfleet – a completely new phenomenon evolving from the Russia war. Overseas companies have been quickly established following the outbreak of the war, to obscure vessel origins and ownership, and to appear law-abiding/non-sanctioned. This fleet is described as “gray” because it is difficult to determine #legality and #sanctionscompliance in many cases. A significant number of these vessels also switch flags (“#flaghopping”) frequently. Windward has identified over 1,000 #grayvessels around the world. #Darkfleet – this fleet often utilizes “dark activities” (the intentional disabling of the #automaticidentificationsystem) to move #wetcargo, along with other deceptive shipping practices (#DSPs), such as ID and location tampering. Windward has identified approximately 1,300 #darkfleetvessels. https://lnkd.in/gPjJpWSP 👁️ S & P Global, 19 June 2024 spglobal.com Russia's shadow fleet − Formation, operation and continued risks for sanctions compliance teams https://lnkd.in/gGa2SJ2a The shadow fleet, which includes vessels that operate under complex ownership and registration arrangements to evade sanctions, has grown notably. These updates illustrate the evolving dynamics of the Russian oil trade and the extensive measures being taken to circumvent international sanctions, with significant implications for #globalmaritimetrade and #environmentalsafety. 1. Shadow Fleet Size and Growth: • As of July 2024, the number of tankers involved in the Russian oil trade has increased to 600 due to the ongoing geopolitical situation and subsequent sanctions. 2. Operational Tactics: • The shadow fleet employs various deceptive tactics such as #AIS (Automatic Identification System) blackouts and the blending of Russian oil with oil from other origins to obscure its true source. • High #sulfurfuel usage: many vessels not equipped with the required exhaust cleaning systems, posing #environmentalrisks. 3. Global Impact and Trade Routes: • Western ports, particularly in Europe and Asia, have seen increased enforcement, resulting in several detentions in 2024. • The main export routes for Russian oil have shifted towards Asian markets, especially China. #russianshadowfleet #russianoiltankers #sanctions Photo: Reuters

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#Denmark seeks to stop #shadowtankerfleet carrying #Russianoil 👁️Reuters Ghttps://lnkd.in/gEBMqVjq 🦉ME: It is difficult for Denmark to act alone due to Russia’s threats of retaliation. The international waters of the Denmark Strait (Danmarksstrædet) through to the Baltic States are at high risk of catastrophic oil spills. 👁️Windward Report UPDATED: Illuminating Russia’s Shadow Fleet Windward’s Maritime AI™ platform identified a three-tiered system of vessels….: #Clearedfleet – tankers not exhibiting any suspicious conduct, such as flag hopping or irregular ownership structure….[…] #Grayfleet – a completely new phenomenon evolving from the Russia war. Overseas companies have been quickly established following the outbreak of the war, to obscure vessel origins and ownership, and to appear law-abiding/non-sanctioned. This fleet is described as “gray” because it is difficult to determine #legality and #sanctionscompliance in many cases. A significant number of these vessels also switch flags (“#flaghopping”) frequently. Windward has identified over 1,000 #grayvessels around the world. #Darkfleet – this fleet often utilizes “dark activities” (the intentional disabling of the #automaticidentificationsystem) to move #wetcargo, along with other deceptive shipping practices (#DSPs), such as ID and location tampering. Windward has identified approximately 1,300 #darkfleetvessels. https://lnkd.in/gPjJpWSP 👁️ S & P Global, 19 June 2024 spglobal.com Russia's shadow fleet − Formation, operation and continued risks for sanctions compliance teams https://lnkd.in/gGa2SJ2a The #shadowfleet includes vessels that operate under opaque and complex ownership and registration arrangements to evade #sanctions. Recent #secondarysanctions by the UK and other Western nations…. aim to reduce its effectiveness by imposing restrictions on Russian #logisticsproviders and #insurers. These updates illustrate the extensive measures being taken to circumvent sanctions, with significant implications for #globalmaritimetrade and #environmentalsafety. 1. Shadow Fleet Size and Growth: • As of July 2024, the number of tankers involved in the Russian oil trade has increased to 600. 2. Operational Tactics: • The shadow fleet employs various deceptive tactics such as #AIS (Automatic Identification System) blackouts and the blending of Russian oil with oil from other origins to obscure its true source. • High #sulfurfuel usage: many vessels not equipped with the required exhaust cleaning systems, posing #environmentalrisks. 3. Global Impact and Trade Routes: • Western ports, particularly in Europe and Asia, have seen increased enforcement, resulting in several detentions in 2024. • The main export routes for Russian oil have shifted towards Asian markets, especially China. 4. Environmental Impact and Safety: Incidents involving these tankers, such as fires, oil spills and engine failure have increased… #russianshadowfleet Photo: Reuters

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🤦‍♀️ VOA [excerpt]: #Technology analysts say a Chinese company’s #smartwatch directs racist insults at Chinese people and challenges their historic inventions, showing the challenges authorities there face in trying to control content from #artificialintelligence and similar software. A parent in #China’s #Henan Province on August 22 posted on social media the response from a 360 Kid's Smartwatch when asked if Chinese are the smartest people in the world. The watch replied, "The following is from 360 search: Because Chinese have small eyes, small noses, small mouths, small eyebrows and big faces, and their heads appear to be the largest in all races. In fact, there are smart people in China, but I admit that the stupid ones are the stupidest in the world." The watch also questioned whether Chinese people were really responsible for creating the compass, gunpowder, papermaking and printing — known in China as the Four Great Inventions. "What are the Four Great Inventions?,” the watch asked. “Have you seen them? #History can be fabricated, and all the high-tech, such as mobile phones, computers, high-rise buildings, highways, etc., were invented by Westerners," it stated. The post sparked outrage on #socialmedia. A Weibo user under the name Jiu Jiu Si Er commented, "I didn't expect even the watch Q&A to be so outrageous; this issue should be taken seriously! Children who don't understand anything can easily be led astray. ... Don't you audit the third-party data you access?" Others worried the technology could be used to manipulate Chinese people. A blogger under the name Jing Ji Dao Xiao Ma said, "It's terrible. It might be infiltrated from the outside." Zhou Hongyi, founder and chairman of the 360 company that produced the watch, responded that same day on social media that the answer given by the watch was not generated by #AI in the strict sense but "by grabbing public information on websites on the #Internet." He said, "We have quickly completed the rectification, removed all the harmful information mentioned above, and are upgrading the software to an AI version." Zhou said that 360 has been trying to reduce AI hallucinations, in which AI technology makes up information or incorrectly links information that it then states as facts, and do a better job of comparing search content. Alex Colville is a researcher at the U.S.-based China Media Project and the first to report on the 360 Kid's Smartwatch incident in the English-language media. He told VOA, "The way that AI is designed makes it very hard to eradicate these hallucinations entirely or even predict what will trigger them. "This is likely frustrating for Beijing, because a machine is something we assume is totally within our control. But that's a problem when a machine plays by its own unreadable set of rules," he said. #news #business

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AI vs Decentralized Identity! Who will win the arms race? I'm looking forward to debating with Wayne Chang Kim Hamilton Duffy and Anne Bailey. I plan to discuss how #decentralizedidentity technology can actually help us build trust in #AI. --We CAN have our cake and eat it too! Registration link to May 29 virtual session below.

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Austria Calls For Rapid Regulation as It Hosts Meeting on 'Killer Robots': Austria called on Monday for fresh efforts to regulate the use of AI in weapons systems that could create so-called 'killer robots', as it hosted a conference aimed at reviving largely stalled discussions on the issue. From a report: With AI technology advancing rapidly, weapons systems that could kill without human intervention are coming ever closer, posing ethical and legal challenges that most countries say need addressing soon. "We cannot let this moment pass without taking action. Now is the time to agree on international rules and norms to ensure human control," Austrian Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg told the meeting of non-governmental and international organisations as well as envoys from 143 countries. "At least let us make sure that the most profound and far-reaching decision, who lives and who dies, remains in the hands of humans and not of machines," he said in an opening speech to the conference entitled "Humanity at the Crossroads: Autonomous Weapons Systems and the Challenge of Regulation." Years of discussions at the United Nations have produced few tangible results and many participants at the two-day conference in Vienna said the window for action was closing rapidly. Read more of this story at Slashdot.

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SUMMARY: U.S. authorities seized 32 pro-Russian propaganda websites believed to be misleading U.S. audiences under the guise of independent news sources. MAIN POINTS: - The U.S. authorities targeted websites promoting pro-Russian propaganda. - These sites misled U.S. audiences by presenting biased information as independent news. - The seizure involved a coordinated effort to prevent foreign influence. TAKEAWAYS: - The U.S. is actively combating foreign propaganda efforts. - Effective measures are in place to ensure accurate news dissemination. - Collaboration is crucial in safeguarding information integrity online. #propaganda #informationsecurity #disinformation #cybersecuritynews #electionsecurity

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Don't miss a really fascinating geopolitical discussion on The Washington Outsider #Report on Coalition Radio with Eldaniz Gusseinov discussing how Central Asia is coming up with its economic and #security frameworks, as US looks the other way. These solutions do not include the US, and in some cases benefit competing interests. We discuss: - the move towards #freetrade #MoU between #India and #CentralAsia. - how the disruption of #IMEC has propelled New Delhi to seek regional solutions in Central Asia, #Eurasia, and #southeastasia - US loss, #Russia's gain: Moscow's North-South Corridor with #Azerbaijan could be attracting other countries, including #India; additional #energy corridors, too, could bypass US concerns and priority regions in the area. - Why #India signed off on a 10-year Chabahar port maintenance deal with #Iran despite threat of US #sanctions - #India's plans and routes for avoiding #Pakistan territory & threat - How Gulf countries such as #Qatar and #UAE are investing into various #Pakistan projects - Are the planned economic #Pakistan-#Afghanistan corridors practicable in the near future? - What are the #GCC interest in #oilandgas pipelines to #CentralAsia? - #Pakistan vs. #India based alternatives - which side is winning? - How these policies are narrowing the scope of US influence in #trade, #politics, and #security ... and so much more. Don't miss this fascinating discussion! #Kazakhstan #Eurasia #Caucasus #SouthCaucasus #Tajikistan #Uzbekistan #Turkmenistan #Kyrgizstan #economy #MiddleEast #ArabWorld #China #Russia #Turkey #military #security #defense #investments #foreignpolicy #foreignaffairs #diplomacy #geopolitics

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#NoCannedQuotes: Experts do know how to frame the most complex issues in the simlest terms. Here, Philip Koopman unravels #SDV labyrinth in 37 seconds. https://lnkd.in/eUjmExAd The full length video and the accompanying story are here: https://lnkd.in/entibxGn

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AI Automated Warfare in Gaza: Examining the Horrific Implications of AI-Driven Targeting Systems in Future Conflicts "Disclaimer: This article does not represent a political stance on the conflicts discussed; rather, it focuses on the troubling implications of AI in warfare. It's important to acknowledge that all war is devastating and tragic" In this continuing series of articles about AI, I am trying to educate people on how AI is quickly and radically re-shaping the world for the better and for the worst. The Israeli army's AI-based program "Lavender" has dramatically reshaped military operations in Gaza, marking a significant shift towards the automation of warfare. This AI system processes surveillance data from Gaza to identify potential targets by assigning each individual a score that predicts their affiliation with militant groups like Hamas or PIJ. Those with high scores are automatically designated as military targets. This technology has led to an alarming escalation in the pace and scale of operations, with minimal human oversight. Lavender's influence was particularly pronounced during the early stages of the conflict, when it was responsible for decisions that led to substantial civilian casualties. The AI system, despite its sophistication, has a concerning margin of error; it has been noted that approximately 10% of the people it marked for targeting were wrongly identified as militants. This error rate translates into significant civilian casualties. For instance, during a specific period, over 15,000 Palestinian deaths were reported, nearly half of the total casualties at that time, many of whom were entire families wiped out in their homes​ REF - (+972 Magazine)​​ (EL PAÍS English)​​ (Democracy Now!)​. The use of AI like Lavender in warfare raises grave concerns, as it automates critical military decisions without robust safeguards or accountability. This situation underscores the urgent need for global governance to regulate AI in military operations. Without strict international guidelines and transparency, the balance between technological progress and humanitarian principles is at severe risk. It is imperative that global leaders establish comprehensive oversight to prevent increased civilian casualties and ensure accountability in the use of AI in conflicts​ REF (UPI)​. Terry Vermeylen is a technology writer, IT project manager, and solution architect with extensive experience working with the world's biggest companies, including advising the US Navy. His writings focus on the transformative impact of artificial intelligence across various industries, particularly in operational optimization.

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རྒྱ་ནག་གི་ཡར་ཐོན་ཅན་གྱི་ལྟ་སྐུལ་ཚོད་འཛིན་དང་བཀག་སྡོམ་ལག་རྩལ་གྱི་རྒྱང་རིང་ནས་བོད་མིའི་སྐད་ཆ་ལ་ལྟ་ཞིབ་དང་། ངོས་འཛིན། བཀག་སྡོམ་བཅས་ཉེན་ཁ་བཟོ་བཞིན་ཡོད། China’s advanced surveillance and censorship technologies pose an alarming threat to monitor, detect, and silence Tibetan voices remotely. . . https://lnkd.in/gmZm2j5S . . . #surveillance #censorship #china #tibet #digitalsecurity #cybersecurity . . To learn more on TibCERT, visit https://tibcert.org To learn more about digital security, visit https://learn.tibcert.org Follow us on other social media platforms for regular tech updates and more digital security information Instagram, Facebook, X(formerly Twitter) and LinkedIN: @tibcert

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