CYBER GEOPOLITICS – CYBERCONFLICT
Russia approves annual tests for national internet system
« Russian prime minister Dmitry Medvedev has signed a regulation on carrying out tests to support an autonomous domestic internet, reports Cnews.ru. The regulation will enter into force from 1 November…” https://www.telecompaper.com/news/russia-approves-annual-tests-for-national-internet-system–1313152
Former senior Australian intelligence official charged
“A former senior Australian intelligence official has appeared in a court charged with breaching secrecy laws over classified documents allegedly found at his home during an investigation into potential Chinese links to Australian politics….” https://federalnewsnetwork.com/government-news/2019/10/former-senior-australian-intelligence-official-charged/
Sri Lanka spy chief blamed for failures before Easter attack
“A Sri Lankan parliamentary committee that investigated last April’s Easter suicide bombings has concluded that the country’s spy chief was primarily responsible for the intelligence failure that led to the deaths of 269 people in the attacks…” https://federalnewsnetwork.com/world-news/2019/10/sri-lanka-spy-chief-blamed-for-failures-before-easter-attack/
Advisory: Turla group exploits Iranian APT to expand coverage of victims – A joint report from the NCSC and NSA highlighting Turla activity
“This report draws on reported information and NCSC investigations into Turla activity in the UK alongside information shared by partners and industry sources. It has been produced in collaboration and with the support of the United States’ National Security Agency (NSA)….” https://www.ncsc.gov.uk/news/turla-group-exploits-iran-apt-to-expand-coverage-of-victims
Trade tensions, jibes at U.S. overshadow Chinese cyber conference
« The state-run World Internet Conference, one of the country’s most prominent tech events, took place this year against a backdrop of rising Sino-U.S. frictions and has been especially overshadowed by Washington’s moves against Chinese tech companies…” https://www.reuters.com/article/us-china-cyber-usa/trade-tensions-jibes-at-u-s-overshadow-chinese-cyber-conference-idUSKBN1X10YD
Hacking the hackers: Russian group hijacked Iranian spying operation, officials say
« Russian hackers piggy-backed on an Iranian cyber-espionage operation to attack government and industry organizations in dozens of countries while masquerading as attackers from the Islamic Republic, British and U.S. officials said on Monday…” https://www.reuters.com/article/us-russia-cyber-idUSKBN1X00AK
Facebook: Removing More Coordinated Inauthentic Behavior From Iran and Russia
« Today, we removed four separate networks of accounts, Pages and Groups for engaging in coordinated inauthentic behavior on Facebook and Instagram. Three of them originated in Iran and one in Russia, and they targeted a number of different regions of the world: the US, North Africa and Latin America…” https://newsroom.fb.com/news/2019/10/removing-more-coordinated-inauthentic-behavior-from-iran-and-russia/
Australian intelligence agency wants more resources to counter foreign interference
« Australia’s national intelligence agency said in a report this week that it does not have enough resources to collect intelligence on foreign agents and their efforts to interfere…” https://www.reuters.com/article/us-australia-security/australian-intelligence-agency-wants-more-resources-to-counter-foreign-interference-idUSKBN1WW05M
CYBER SECURITY
Europol and Palo Alto Networks expand their cooperation in tackling cybercrime
« Today, Europol and Palo Alto Networks have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to expand their collaborative efforts in combating cybercrime and working together to make cyberspace safer for citizens, businesses and governments…” https://www.europol.europa.eu/newsroom/news/europol-and-palo-alto-networks-expand-their-cooperation-in-tackling-cybercrime
UN, UNICEF, Red Cross officials targeted in recent phishing campaign
« Over the past few months, a pervasive spear-phishing campaign has hit a slew of human rights organizations across the world, with some of the victims including the Red Cross, UNICEF, and the UN World Food and the UN Development programs…” https://www.zdnet.com/article/un-unicef-red-cross-officials-targeted-in-recent-phishing-campaign/
Senators say TikTok should be investigated by U.S. intelligence for potential “national security risks”
“Two U.S. senators say the time has come for an investigation into TikTok. The senators have requested that U.S. intelligence officials examine the wildly popular, Chinese-owned social media app for potential “national security risks…” https://www.cbsnews.com/news/senators-say-tiktok-should-be-investigated-by-u-s-intelligence-for-potential-national-security-risks/
The UK’s National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) has published its third annual report
« The organisation’s third annual report shows how much has been done to secure Britain’s digital networks—and how much is left to do…” https://www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/science-and-technology/the-national-cyber-security-centre-has-to-build-for-the-future
https://www.ncsc.gov.uk/annual-review/2019/ncsc/index.html
NATO to reinforce security requirements amid 5G network risks
« NATO defence ministers are poised to update security requirements of their civilian telecommunications equipment with special attention to be paid on infrastructure like new 5G internet networks, the Alliance’s Secretary General said Wednesday…” https://telecom.economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/nato-to-reinforce-security-requirements-amid-5g-network-risks/71732229
Australia : ‘State actor’ responsible for cyber attack likely to stay a secret
« A confidential report into a cyber attack on parliamentary systems in February by a “sophisticated state actor” is likely to remain secret, according to Senate president Scott Ryan.. » https://www.theaustralian.com.au/nation/politics/state-actor-responsible-for-cyber-attack-likely-to-stay-a-secret/news-story/6a46c7718563dd4fa421c488ecfe9091
Information Security Forum Teams with NIST to Create Online Informative References
“The Information Security Forum (ISF) has been working with the United States National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) as part of a pilot project to create Online Informative References (OLIRs) between information security standards and the NIST Cybersecurity Framework (CSF)…” https://www.prlog.org/12794979-information-security-forum-teams-with-nist-to-create-online-informative-references.html
TELECOMMUNICATION – INFRASTRUCTURE
WMO calls for protection of radio frequencies vital to weather forecasts
“The World Meteorological Organization is calling on governments to protect radio frequencies allocated to Earth observation services which are vital for weather forecasts and long-term climate change monitoring…” https://reliefweb.int/report/world/wmo-calls-protection-radio-frequencies-vital-weather-forecasts
Pentagon announces big push to incorporate 5G technology for military use
“The Defense Department on Wednesday announced the kickoff of a major initiative to start integrating commercial 5G technologies into its communications networks, an effort that’s likely to mean hundreds of millions of dollars in new spending over the next year…” https://federalnewsnetwork.com/defense-main/2019/10/pentagon-announces-big-push-to-incorporate-5g-technology-for-military-use/
ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE
40 Major Music Festivals Have Pledged Not to Use Facial Recognition Technology
“Forty of the world’s largest music festivals—including SXSW, Coachella, Pitchfork, and Bonnaroo—have gone on the record to promise that they will not use facial recognition technology at their events, following a campaign launched by musicians and activists to ban the technology. Today, organizers of the campaign are declaring victory….” https://www.vice.com/en_us/article/ywakpj/40-major-music-festivals-have-pledged-not-to-use-facial-recognition-technology
UK : Police to ‘predict’ hate crimes through Twitter for the first time
“Police will use artificial intelligence to predict real-life hate crimes based on Twitter comments in the first trial of its kind in the UK…” https://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/2019/10/19/police-predict-hate-crimes-twitter-first-time/
COMPETITION – TRUST
Facebook’s antitrust headache gets worse: 47 attorneys general now investigating
« New York Attorney General Letitia James announced on Tuesday that 47 state attorneys general are now investigating Facebook (FB)…” https://edition.cnn.com/2019/10/22/tech/facebook-antitrust-investigation/index.html
CAPACITY DEVELOPMENT – ACCESS
Experts, policymakers call for redefining Africa’s digital age narrative
« African experts and policymakers on Thursday called on African countries and pan African institutions to redefine Africa’s narrative in the digital age in line with the continent’s major development aspirations…” http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2019-10/24/c_138500062.htm
Internet 2019 affordability report
« The 2019 Affordability Report, released in October 2019, points to a lack of competition in broadband markets as a major barrier to affordable access — and explores how governments can shape healthy, competitive markets supported by public access solutions to deliver affordable and meaningful connectivity for all…” https://a4ai.org/affordability-report/
QUANTUM TECHNOLOGY
Google Claims a Quantum Breakthrough That Could Change Computing
“Google said on Wednesday that it had achieved a long-sought breakthrough called “quantum supremacy,” which could allow new kinds of computers to do calculations at speeds that are inconceivable with today’s technology…” https://www.nytimes.com/2019/10/23/technology/quantum-computing-google.html
FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION
Mark Zuckerberg signals Facebook won’t return to China as he calls on tech firms to defend free speech
« Facebook has effectively given up on bringing its services to China, its chief executive Mark Zuckerberg has confirmed, signalling a decisive end to the social media giant’s ambition to enter that market…” https://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/2019/10/17/mark-zuckerberg-signals-facebook-wont-return-china-calls-tech/
OHCHR: Freedom of Opinion and Expression – Annual reports
« Annually the Special Rapporteur is required to submit a report to the Commission covering the activities relating to his or her mandate, containing recommendations to the Commission and providing suggestions on ways and means to better promote and protect the right to freedom of opinion and expression in all its manifestations…” https://www.ohchr.org/EN/Issues/FreedomOpinion/Pages/Annual.aspx
DIGITAL ECONOMY
China starts construction of pilot zones for digital economy innovation, development
« China started the construction of six national-level pilot zones for innovation and development of the digital economy on Sunday…” https://www.hellenicshippingnews.com/china-starts-construction-of-pilot-zones-for-digital-economy-innovation-development/
CHILD ONLINE PROTECTION
UNICEF calls for efforts to protect children online
« The global community must ensure that children’s rights, and particularly protecting children online, is at the heart of internet governance and safety, UNICEF Deputy Executive Director Omar Abdi said on 20 October at the sub-forum “Protection of Minors Online and Governance of Internet Ecology” during the 2019 World Internet Conference in Wuzhen, Zhejiang Province…” www.china.org.cn/china/2019-10/22/content_75327793_2.htm
NEUTRALITY DU NET
After court loss, Ajit Pai complains about states regulating broadband
Federal Communications Commission Chairman Ajit Pai may have belatedly concluded that federal regulation of broadband would be better for businesses than letting all 50 US states regulate Internet access. https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2019/10/ajit-pai-bemoans-state-broadband-laws-but-his-actions-helped-create-them/
ICANN ANNOUNCEMENT
Implementation Plan for the GNSO Consensus Policy Relating to the Protection of Certain Red Cross Names
« This public comment forum is intended to gather community feedback on the proposed policy changes related to the 191 full names of the National Red Cross or Red Crescent Societies, the International Committee of the Red Cross, and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, which are to be placed into the Reserved Names List…” https://www.icann.org/news/announcement-2019-10-23-en
Call for Expressions of Interest (EoIs) for the At-Large Board Member Position 2019-2020 Cycle
« On behalf of the Board Candidate Evaluation Committee (BCEC), the At-Large community is seeking Expressions of Interest (EoIs) from individuals who wish to serve as an ICANN Board Director. The selected candidate will serve a 3-year term starting at the end of ICANN69, which will be held in Hamburg, Germany, from 17-22 October 2020…” https://www.icann.org/news/announcement-2019-10-21-en
DRAFT PTI and IANA FY21 Operating Plan and Budgets
« Focusing on ICANN’s commitment to the multistakeholder model, the ICANN organization seeks public comment on the operating plan and budgets for delivering the IANA functions…” https://www.icann.org/news/announcement-2-2019-10-14-en
ISOC
Nominations Now Open for 2020 Internet Society Board of Trustees Elections
« The Internet Society Nominations Committee is now inviting nominations for candidates to serve on the Board of Trustees. https://www.internetsociety.org/blog/2019/10/nominations-now-open-for-2020-internet-society-board-of-trustees-elections/
What to Look for When Choosing a VPN
« The search for online privacy has driven a quarter of the world’s Internet users to download a Virtual Private Network (VPN). VPN services are now an important tool for anyone concerned about security and privacy on public networks…” https://www.internetsociety.org/blog/2019/10/what-to-look-for-when-choosing-a-vpn/
Securing the Internet: Introducing Oracle Internet Intelligence IXP Filter Check
« We are proud to announce the launch of the IXP Filter Check, which is designed to improve Internet routing security by monitoring route filtering at Internet Exchange Points (IXPs). Here we describe the origin of this project, how it works, and what it hopes to achieve…” https://www.internetsociety.org/blog/2019/10/securing-the-internet-introducing-oracle-internet-intelligence-ixp-filter-check/
Your Day with Encryption
« How often do you use encryption? It seems like the stuff of spy films, but you might be surprised to find out how often it touches your daily life…” https://www.internetsociety.org/blog/2019/10/your-day-with-encryption/
Internet Governance updates 