These artificial avatars would operate on social media and online platforms, featuring realistic expressions and high-quality images akin to government IDs. JSOC also seeks technologies to produce convincing facial and background videos, including ‘selfie videos’, to avoid detection by social media algorithms.
US state agencies have previously announced frameworks to combat foreign information manipulation, citing national security threats from these technologies. Despite recognising the global dangers posed by deepfakes, SOCOM’s initiative underscores a willingness to engage with the technology for potential military advantage.
Experts expressed concern over the ethical implications and potential for increased misinformation, warning of the entirely deceptive nature of deepfakes, with no legitimate applications beyond deceit, possibly encouraging further global misuse. Furthermore, such practices pose the risk of diminished public trust in government communications, exacerbated by perceived hypocrisy in deploying such technology.
Why does it matter?
This plan reflects an ongoing interest in leveraging digital manipulation for military purposes, despite previous incidents where platforms like Meta dismantled similar US-linked networks. It further shows a contradiction in the US’s stance on deepfake use, as it simultaneously condemns similar actions by countries like Russia and China.
The Mekong-US Partnership (MUSP) recently hosted a policy dialogue on online scams, bringing together government representatives from Thailand, the US, and Vietnam. The seminar, held in Bangkok, focused on addressing cybersecurity issues and fostering cooperation to combat online crime across the Mekong region. The event was organised by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Stimson Center, with support from the US Department of State.
Discussions centred around strategies to prevent online scams, enhance risk management, and ensure the security of digital financial systems. Thai officials, including Ekapong Harimcharoen from the Ministry of Digital Economy and Society, highlighted national policies and shared insights with international partners. Participants explored collaborative efforts to build a secure online environment and promote regional connectivity under the MUSP framework.
Thailand is taking significant steps to expand its digital economy, projected to contribute 11% to GDP by 2027. Several laws and initiatives are already in place, such as the Personal Data Protection Act (PDPA) and the Cyber Security Act. These measures aim to protect data, promote responsible AI development, and safeguard critical infrastructure sectors including healthcare, banking, and telecommunications.
With remote work and cloud technologies becoming more prominent, the demand for cybersecurity solutions is growing. Thailand aims to position itself as a regional leader in information and communications technology while tackling the evolving challenges of cybercrime. Cooperation under the MUSP framework is expected to enhance resilience in the digital landscape of the Mekong sub-region.
Russia is using generative AI to ramp up disinformation campaigns against Ukraine, warned Ukraine’s Deputy Foreign Minister, Anton Demokhin, during a cyber conference in Singapore. He explained that AI is enabling Russia to spread false narratives on a larger and more complex scale, making it increasingly difficult to detect and counter. The spread of disinformation is a growing focus for Russia, alongside ongoing cyberattacks targeting Ukraine.
Ukrainian officials have previously reported that Russia’s FSB and military intelligence agencies are behind many of these efforts, with the goal of undermining public trust and spreading confusion. Demokhin stressed that Russia’s disinformation efforts are global, calling for international cooperation to tackle this emerging threat. He also mentioned that Ukraine is using AI to track these campaigns but declined to comment on any offensive cyber operations.
Meanwhile, other Russian cyberattacks are targeting Ukraine’s critical infrastructure and supply chains, seeking to disrupt essential services. Ukraine continues to collaborate with the International Criminal Court on investigating Russian cyber activities as potential war crimes.
A recent Microsoft report claims that Russia, China, and Iran are increasingly collaborating with cybercriminals to conduct cyber espionage and hacking operations. This partnership blurs the lines between state-directed activities and the illicit financial pursuits typical of criminal networks. National security experts emphasise that this collaboration allows governments to amplify their cyber capabilities without incurring additional costs while offering criminals new profit avenues and the security of government protection.
The report, which analyses cyber threats from July 2023 to June 2024, highlights the significant increase in cyber incidents, with Microsoft reporting over 600 million attacks daily. Russia has focused its efforts primarily on Ukraine, attempting to infiltrate military and governmental systems while spreading disinformation to weaken international support. Meanwhile, as the US election approaches, both Russia and Iran are expected to intensify their cyber operations aimed at American voters.
Despite allegations, countries like China, Russia, and Iran have denied collaborating with cybercriminals. China’s embassy in Washington dismissed these claims as unfounded, asserting that the country actively opposes cyberattacks. Efforts to combat foreign disinformation are increasing, yet the fluid nature of the internet complicates these initiatives, as demonstrated by the rapid resurgence of websites previously seized by US authorities.
Overall, the evolving landscape of cyber threats underscores the growing interdependence between state actors and cybercriminals, posing significant risks to national security and public trust.
The UK government prioritises adopting innovative technologies through its draft industrial strategy, ‘Invest 2035.’ The comprehensive plan aims to accelerate the integration and scaling of new technologies across eight key growth sectors, including cybersecurity solutions and ensuring that all emerging technologies are secure by design.
To support this technological advancement, the strategy focuses on strengthening cyber resilience by enhancing supply chain resilience to mitigate vulnerabilities that could impede long-term growth. Implementing strengthened cyber resilience measures is essential for safeguarding growth-driving sectors against potential digital threats, thereby reinforcing the overall security of the economy.
Additionally, a crucial element of the strategy is the investment in skills and workforce development, as the UK government acknowledges the need to prepare the workforce for future challenges through substantial investments in skills and training. Promoting cybersecurity education is vital, empowering individuals and organisations to protect themselves better and leverage technological advancements.
Furthermore, the draft strategy emphasises public consultation and stakeholder engagement, inviting input from businesses, experts, unions, and other stakeholders to refine the plan before its final publication in spring 2025. The government also highlights the importance of collaboration between itself and the cyber industry, as these partnerships are essential for addressing existing challenges, such as the skills gap and outdated cyber laws. Ultimately, this strategy aims to support the growth of a secure and resilient economy, fostering an environment where organisations can thrive safely in an increasingly digital world.
Russia has announced a substantial increase in the use of AI-powered drones in its military operations in Ukraine. Russian Defense Minister Andrei Belousov emphasised the importance of these autonomous drones in battlefield tactics, saying they are already deployed in key regions and proving successful in combat situations. Speaking at a next-generation drone technology center, he called for more intensive training for troops to operate these systems effectively.
Belousov revealed that two units equipped with AI drones are currently stationed in eastern Ukraine and along Russia’s Belgorod and Kursk borders, where they are engaged in active combat. The AI technology enables drones to autonomously lock onto targets and continue missions even if control is lost. Plans are underway to form five additional units to conduct around-the-clock drone operations.
Russia‘s ramped-up use of AI drones comes alongside a broader military strategy to increase drone production by tenfold, with President Putin aiming to produce 1.4 million units by the year’s end. Both Russia and Ukraine have heavily relied on drones throughout the war, with Ukraine also using them to strike targets deep inside Russian territory.
A bipartisan group of US lawmakers is demanding answers from major telecom companies such as AT&T, Verizon, and Lumen Technologies after reports that Chinese hackers accessed sensitive US broadband networks. According to The Wall Street Journal, the breach involved systems the federal government uses for court-authorised wiretapping, sparking concerns about national security.
Led by House Energy and Commerce Committee Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers and Democrat Frank Pallone, the lawmakers have requested a briefing and detailed answers from the companies by next Friday. They want to know what data was compromised and when the telecoms discovered the intrusion, pointing to broader cybersecurity risks embedded in US telecommunications networks.
While AT&T and Lumen declined to comment, and Verizon has not yet responded, China’s foreign ministry denied involvement, accusing the US of fabricating the allegations. The timeline of the hacking remains unclear, but reports suggest that the hackers may have had access to the networks for months, potentially compromising vast amounts of internet traffic and communication data.
Donald Trump‘s presidential campaign has strengthened its cybersecurity measures by acquiring secure mobile phones and laptops after facing Iranian cyberattacks and assassination threats. The campaign partnered with Green Hills Software, a California-based company known for its secure operating systems used by various US agencies. The customised phones are designed for basic functions like calls and texts, featuring advanced security protocols such as end-to-end encryption and two-factor authentication.
Green Hills Software CEO Dan O’Dowd, who initiated contact with the campaign, stressed the importance of safeguarding the democratic process. Though the campaign has not made any public statements, insiders revealed that security devices have recently been upgraded. This decision comes after the Iranian hacking group APT42 infiltrated the campaign’s internal communications during a recent cyber espionage operation.
The newly acquired devices create a secure communication network, allowing only those using the same system to connect. The campaign also invested in secure laptops designed to operate in an isolated environment, following the same security principles as the phones. Green Hills Software’s technology is already trusted by US military branches and FBI field offices to maintain secure communications and protect sensitive data.
Meta Platforms announced it had removed a network of accounts targeting Russian speakers in Moldova ahead of the country’s October 20 election, citing violations of its fake accounts policy. Moldovan authorities have also blocked numerous Telegram channels and chatbots allegedly used to pay voters to cast “no” votes in a referendum on EU membership being held alongside the presidential election. Pro-European President Maia Sandu, seeking a second term, has made the referendum central to her platform.
The deleted Meta accounts targeted President Maia Sandu, pro-EU politicians, and the strong ties between Moldova and Romania while promoting pro-Russia parties. This network featured fake Russian-language news brands masquerading as independent media across various platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, Telegram, OK.ru, and TikTok. Meta’s actions involved removing multiple accounts, pages, and groups to combat coordinated inauthentic behaviour.
Moldova’s National Investigation Inspectorate has blocked 15 Telegram channels and 95 chatbots that were offering payments to voters, citing violations of political financing laws. Authorities linked these activities to supporters of fugitive businessman Ilan Shor, who established the ‘Victory’ electoral bloc while in exile in Moscow. In response, Moldovan police have raided the homes of Shor’s associates, alleging that payments were funnelled through a Russian bank to influence the election. Shor, who was sentenced in absentia for his involvement in a significant 2014 bank fraud case, denies the bribery allegations. Meanwhile, President Maia Sandu accuses Russia of attempting to destabilise her government, while Moscow claims that she is inciting ‘Russophobia.’
The Internet Archive, a prominent online repository of web pages, faced significant disruptions on Thursday after a major cyberattack that exposed user data. Brewster Kahle, the organisation’s founder, reported a series of distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks that began earlier in the week, leading to the defacement of its website and the breach of usernames, emails, and passwords for millions of users. Although the data has not been corrupted, the attack has raised concerns about cybersecurity vulnerabilities, especially with the upcoming US presidential election on November 5.
The hackers, a group claiming to be pro-Palestinian called ‘SN_BLACKMETA,’ targeted the Internet Archive, accusing it of being connected to US government support for Israel. They reportedly posted a defacing message on the site, which informed users that 31 million accounts had been breached. The site ‘Have I Been Pwned’ later confirmed the stolen records, adding credibility to the hackers’ claims.
Brewster Kahle, founder of the Internet Archive, announced that the organisation is actively working to restore services and strengthen security measures following a major cyberattack. Established in 1996, the nonprofit is renowned for its Wayback Machine, which archives web pages and serves as a critical resource for researchers and journalists. This incident underscores the increasing risks of cyberattacks, particularly for organisations dedicated to preserving information and fostering an open internet.
