A South Korean detective has helped bring down a Bitcoin mining scam operation after accidentally becoming one of its targets. The scammers, who operated an illegal call centre, contacted the detective in April, unaware of his position. Realising it was a scam, the detective pretended to fall for the “high-yield” Bitcoin investment scheme, providing his details as if he was interested in investing. This move allowed police to trace the call and investigate further.
Following the detective’s lead, officers were able to track down the scam’s headquarters in Incheon, arresting 81 individuals involved. Among them were those suspected of buying leaked personal data and using fake SIM cards to contact potential victims. Nine key members, including the suspected ringleader, have been detained, while others face charges related to economic crimes and data privacy violations.
Police revealed the group had been running the scheme since October last year, defrauding at least 50 victims. They allegedly lured investors by offering small “dividends” during a free trial period, then asking for larger sums. Altogether, the group is thought to have raised over $1.6 million, promising easy profits through Bitcoin mining. Authorities have urged the public to be cautious of schemes that promise high returns with minimal effort, warning these are often fraudulent.
The Australian government has announced plans to introduce a ban on social media access for children under 16, with legislation expected to pass by late next year. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese described the move as part of a world-leading initiative to combat the harms social media inflicts on children, particularly the negative impact on their mental and physical health. He highlighted concerns over the influence of harmful body image content for girls and misogynistic material directed at boys.
Australia is also testing age-verification systems, such as biometrics and government ID, to ensure that children cannot access social media platforms. The new legislation will not allow exemptions, including for children with parental consent or those with pre-existing accounts. Social media platforms will be held responsible for preventing access to minors, rather than placing the burden on parents or children.
The proposed ban includes major platforms such as Meta’s Instagram and Facebook, TikTok, YouTube, and X (formerly Twitter). While some digital industry representatives, like the Digital Industry Group, have criticised the plan, arguing it could push young people toward unregulated parts of the internet, Australian officials stand by the measure, emphasising the need for strong protections against online harm.
This move positions Australia as a leader in regulating children’s access to social media, with no other country implementing such stringent age-verification methods. The new rules will be introduced into parliament this year and are set to take effect 12 months after ratification.
A top Republican lawmaker has criticised the Biden administration for not taking stronger action against China’s Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corp (SMIC), accusing the company of aiding China’s chip industry and military complex. Michael McCaul, chair of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, called on the US Commerce Department to investigate whether SMIC is violating export controls by producing chips for the sanctioned telecommunications giant Huawei.
In a letter to the Commerce Department, McCaul highlighted concerns over SMIC’s recent advancements, including the production of advanced chips used in Huawei smartphones and plans to supply AI processors for Huawei. He described these developments as a ‘smoking gun’ that could enable China to surpass the US in AI. McCaul has urged the department to halt SMIC’s licenses unless the company undergoes a full audit.
While the US Commerce Department acknowledged McCaul’s letter, it emphasised that it has been tough on China in its enforcement of export controls. SMIC was added to the US restricted trade list in 2020, and Huawei, facing similar sanctions since 2019, have both denied any wrongdoing. The Chinese embassy in Washington has dismissed US criticism, calling it an overreach of national security concerns.
The UK government has ordered China-registered Future Technology Devices International Holding Ltd to sell the majority stake—80.2%—in Scottish chipmaker FTDI, citing national security concerns. The government voiced concerns that UK-developed semiconductor technology and intellectual property could be misused if controlled by foreign interests that have been considered potentially harmful.
This directive requires FTDI’s Chinese parent company to follow a set procedure and timeline to complete the sale. The move highlights the UK’s efforts to protect sensitive technology sectors and its vigilance over foreign investments that may impact national security.
Increasingly, governments worldwide are scrutinising tech-related investments, especially in semiconductor industries, due to the strategic importance of chip technologies in national defence, infrastructure, and critical sectors.
Italy’s data protection authority has criticised Intesa Sanpaolo for underestimating the severity of a data breach that affected thousands of customers, including Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. The breach, which involved an Intesa employee accessing the data of around 3,500 clients, was initially reported with a higher number of affected individuals. However, the bank later clarified that the number was lower than what had been reported in the media.
The data watchdog instructed Intesa to notify all impacted customers within 20 days and noted that the bank had not adequately communicated the full scope of the breach. The authority emphasised that the breach posed a significant risk to the affected individuals’ rights and freedoms, including potential harm to their financial status and reputation. Intesa had already dismissed the employee involved and informed both the data protection authority and prosecutors.
The authority is now reviewing the bank’s security measures and has asked Intesa to provide an update within 30 days. In response, the bank assured that it had prioritised customer data security and had taken steps to enhance its systems and control procedures. Intesa also stated there was no evidence that the data had been shared outside the bank.
A Chinese state-sponsored hacking group, Volt Typhoon, reportedly breached Singapore Telecommunications (SingTel) in June as part of a broader cyber campaign targeting telecom companies and critical infrastructure globally.
SingTel confirmed that malware was detected during the breach but assured there was no data exfiltrated or service disruption. The company took immediate action, reporting the incident to authorities, though it could not confirm if the breach was the same event mentioned in media reports.
Chinese officials have denied involvement in the attack, with a spokesperson asserting that China opposes all forms of cyberattacks. Volt Typhoon, previously linked to cyberattacks on critical US infrastructure, is believed to have used this incident as a test for potential future attacks on US telecom firms. The breach highlights the growing concerns over Chinese cyber activities targeting global critical infrastructure.
The head of US cybersecurity, Jen Easterly, announced Monday that, despite an increase in disinformation targeting the 2024 presidential election, there has been no evidence of interference capable of affecting the election outcome. Easterly noted the unprecedented levels of false information spreading across online platforms, much of which has been attributed to foreign actors aiming to sow division among voters.
US authorities have pointed to Russia as one of the primary sources of election-related disinformation, including a widely circulated fake video in Georgia showing an immigrant falsely claiming to have voted multiple times. Officials say that similar tactics are expected to continue beyond Election Day, targeting trust in the electoral process through to January.
Easterly assured voters that election security is stronger than ever, thanks to enhanced protective measures and improved preparedness across voting jurisdictions. Her message emphasised the government’s ongoing commitment to maintaining safe, secure, and reliable elections for all Americans.
Meta is expanding the reach of its AI models, making its Llama AI series available to US government agencies and private sector partners involved in national security projects. Partnering with firms like Lockheed Martin, Oracle, and Scale AI, Meta aims to assist government teams and contractors with applications such as intelligence gathering and computer code generation for defence needs.
Although Meta’s policies generally restrict using Llama for military purposes, the company is making an exception for these government partners. This decision follows concerns over foreign misuse of the technology, particularly after reports revealed that researchers affiliated with China’s military had used an earlier Llama model without authorisation for intelligence-related applications.
The choice to integrate open AI like Llama into defence remains controversial. Critics argue that AI’s data security risks and its tendency to generate incorrect outputs make it unreliable in military contexts. Recent findings from the AI Now Institute caution that AI tools could be misused by adversaries due to data vulnerabilities, potentially putting sensitive information at risk.
Meta maintains that open AI can accelerate research and enhance security, though US military adoption remains limited. While some big tech employees oppose military-linked projects, Meta emphasises its commitment to strengthening national security while safeguarding its technology from unauthorised foreign use.
A federal judge has dismissed a proposed class-action lawsuit claiming Google illegally profited from scams involving Google Play gift cards. The plaintiff, Judy May, alleged she lost $1,000 after a scammer posed as a government official, instructing her to purchase Google Play gift cards to claim grant money. She argued that Google should have warned consumers about such scams on the card packaging.
However, Judge Beth Labson Freeman ruled that Google was not responsible for May’s losses, as the tech giant neither caused her financial harm nor knowingly benefited from the stolen funds. Freeman also dismissed claims that Google’s 15% to 30% commission on purchases using the gift cards was linked to the initial fraud.
The Federal Trade Commission reported that Americans lost $217 million to gift card fraud in 2023, with Google Play cards implicated in roughly 20% of reported cases. Though May’s case was dismissed, the judge allowed her the option to refile.
Meta has announced an extended ban on new political ads following the United States election, aiming to counter misinformation in the tense post-election period. In a blog post on Monday, the Facebook parent company explained that the suspension will remain in place until later in the week, preventing any new political ads from being introduced immediately after the election. Ads that were served at least once before the restriction will still be displayed, but editing options will be limited.
Meta‘s decision to extend its ad restriction is part of its ongoing policy to help prevent last-minute claims that could be difficult to verify. The social media giant implemented a similar measure in the last election cycle, underscoring the need for extra caution as elections unfold.
Last year, Meta also barred political advertisers and regulated industries from using its generative AI-based ad products, reflecting a continued focus on reducing potential misinformation through stricter ad controls and ad content regulations.
