Hoxhaism | Jotup

China turns to private hackers as it cracks down on online activists on Tiananmen Square anniversary

Retrieved on:

söndag, juni 2, 2024

Every year ahead of the June 4 commemoration of the Tiananmen Square massacre, the Chinese government tightens online censorship to suppress domestic discussion of the event.

Key Points:

Every year ahead of the June 4 commemoration of the Tiananmen Square massacre, the Chinese government tightens online censorship to suppress domestic discussion of the event.
Critics, dissidents and international groups anticipate an uptick in cyber activity ranging from emails with malicious links to network attacks in the days and weeks leading up to the anniversary.

From censorship to cyberattacks

Since then pro-democracy activists have sought to commemorate the massacre on its anniversary – and Beijing has sought to counter mention of the crackdown.
Chinese internet users note more restrictions and censorship in the run-up to the anniversary, with more words being banned and even certain emojis – like candles, denoting vigils – disappearing.
Beyond censorship, cyberattacks on dissident groups and Chinese-language media in the diaspora have also occurred on or around the anniversary.

China’s cyberforce

Today, much of China’s malicious cyber activities are carried out by the Ministry of State Security, or MSS, the country’s main intelligence agency and secret police.
But prior to the MSS expanding into this role, the People’s Liberation Army, or PLA, was responsible for the earliest cyberattacks attributed to the Chinese government.
In 2015, the PLA dedicated a new service to cyberwarfare and network security, the Strategic Support Force.

Hackers: Patriots, pirates or profiteers?

In February 2024, a document leak exposed an underground network of Chinese cyber contractors hacking for profit.
In 1999, Chinese hackers vandalized U.S. government websites following NATO’s accidental bombing of the Chinese embassy in Belgrade.
The term “honker,” meaning “red hacker” in Chinese, emerged around this time to designate Chinese hackers motivated by ideology and nationalism.
The i-Soon leak, however, documents how Chinese state-sponsored contractors engage in bribery and other illicit activities.

Exploiting security flaws

Global Times: Xi's Footsteps: Xi's Europe trip carries forward friendship, charts the course for the future

Retrieved on:

tisdag, maj 14, 2024

Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, described Xi's Europe trip as a journey to carry forward friendship, enhance mutual trust, boost confidence and chart the course for the future.

Key Points:

Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, described Xi's Europe trip as a journey to carry forward friendship, enhance mutual trust, boost confidence and chart the course for the future.
In March 2019, in the French city of Nice, Macron received Xi at Villa Kerylos, a century-old house overlooking the Mediterranean.
Later that year, President Xi and his wife Peng Liyuan met with Macron and his wife Brigitte Macron in the Yuyuan Garden in Shanghai.
He told the Global Times that his niece used to study in Shanghai and now works at a multinational company that has many businesses in China.

Global Times: Xi starts state visit to France, commends bilateral relations

Retrieved on:

måndag, maj 6, 2024

Xi's visit to France comes at a time when this year marks the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and France.

Key Points:

Xi's visit to France comes at a time when this year marks the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and France.
Analysts believe the visit will boost leadership exchanges, strengthen political trust and offer an opportunity for China-Europe relations to move forward in a stable and steady manner.
Pierre Picquart, an expert in geopolitics and human geography from the University of Paris-VIII, told the Global Times that Xi's visit is significant on three levels.
The red banners that read "Long live China-France friendship" and "Wish President Xi a successful visit to France" were very eye-catching.

CGTN AMERICA & CCTV UN: 3rd CMG Forum in Beijing Discusses AI Development

Retrieved on:

onsdag, maj 1, 2024

WASHINGTON, May 1, 2024 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- CGTN America & CCTV UN releases "3rd CMG Forum in Beijing Discusses AI Development"

Key Points:

On Monday, April 29, the China Media Group (CMG) hosted the 3rd CMG Forum in Beijing, focusing on the development of AI.
The theme of the media forum is "A Force for Good: Shared Responsibility in AI."
On Monday, April 29, the China Media Group (CMG) hosted the 3rd CMG Forum in Beijing, focusing on the development of AI.
The theme of the media forum is "A Force for Good: Shared Responsibility in AI."

CGTN: 3rd CMG Forum in Beijing discusses AI development

Retrieved on:

onsdag, maj 1, 2024

BEIJING, May 1, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Focusing on the development of AI, the third CMG Forum was held on Monday in Beijing.

Key Points:

BEIJING, May 1, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Focusing on the development of AI, the third CMG Forum was held on Monday in Beijing.
Guests at the forum stressed the role of media in promoting the innovative application of AI as well as its governance.
Efforts should also be made to boost the development of AI in creating positive, healthy, diverse and high-quality content, so that AI can become a force for good and benefit mankind, they agreed.
Hosted by China Media Group (CMG), the forum attracted more than 200 participants from international organizations, media, think tanks and multinational companies.

CGTN: 3rd CMG Forum in Beijing discusses AI development

Retrieved on:

onsdag, maj 1, 2024

BEIJING, May 1, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Focusing on the development of AI, the third CMG Forum was held on Monday in Beijing.

Key Points:

BEIJING, May 1, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Focusing on the development of AI, the third CMG Forum was held on Monday in Beijing.
Guests at the forum stressed the role of media in promoting the innovative application of AI as well as its governance.
Efforts should also be made to boost the development of AI in creating positive, healthy, diverse and high-quality content, so that AI can become a force for good and benefit mankind, they agreed.
Hosted by China Media Group (CMG), the forum attracted more than 200 participants from international organizations, media, think tanks and multinational companies.

2024 Heze Peony International Communication Forum Successfully Held

Retrieved on:

fredag, april 12, 2024

National Beauty Nourished by the Yellow River, Heavenly Fragrance Shared by the World

Key Points:

Heze, China--(Newsfile Corp. - April 12, 2024) - To promote the international communication of Yellow River culture and peony culture, and to contribute to the exchange and mutual learning among diverse civilizations, the 2024 Heze Peony International Communication Forum was held in Heze on April 12th, organized by the Publicity Department of the Communist Party of China (CPC), Heze Municipal Committee, and CICG Center for International Cultural Communication under the theme "National Beauty Nourished by the Yellow River, Heavenly Fragrance Shared by the World".
He expressed that the 2024 Heze Peony International Communication Forum allows the world to better understand China through exchanges in peony culture.
Participants jointly stamped the peony seal on the commemorative envelope of 2024 Heze Peony International Communication Forum.
The successful hosting of 2024 Heze Peony International Communication Forum not only showcased the unique charm of Yellow River culture and peony culture but also made positive contributions to promoting exchange and mutual learning among diverse civilizations and enhancing international cultural cooperation.

transcosmos Xi'an Center in China becomes a certified Job Training Center

Retrieved on:

tisdag, april 16, 2024

Internet, Disability, City, Communist party, Employment, Hoxhaism, BPO, Computer, Communication, Consumer electronics, Government

TOKYO, April 16, 2024 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- transcosmos inc. is proud to announce that Xi'an Center, its operations center in China was certified as a certified Job Training Center in the Xi'an High-Tech Industries Development Zone in February 2024.

Key Points:

Job Training Center is a public service run by the Human Resources Division under the Party Committee of Xi'an High-Tech Industries Development Zone of the Communist Party of China, with the aim of developing practical innovative talents.
transcosmos Xi'an Center has been offering training programs for new graduates and young adults, actively acting on the Chinese government's call for introducing on-site training and internship programs.
After going through a set of evaluation processes including document review, on-site observation, and qualification screening, Xi'an center successfully received the approval to become a certified job training center.
As its Xi'an Center is now approved as a certified job training center, transcosmos will further support the Xi'an local government in addressing employment challenges for new graduates and young generations as a whole.

Banning TikTok won’t solve social media’s foreign influence, teen harm and data privacy problems

Retrieved on:

torsdag, april 25, 2024

The president can extend the deadline by three months, and TikTok has indicated that it plans to challenge the law in court.

Key Points:

The president can extend the deadline by three months, and TikTok has indicated that it plans to challenge the law in court.
If the law stands and the company fails to sell the app, TikTok will be blocked from any U.S. app store or web-hosting service.
The main arguments against TikTok under ByteDance’s ownership include that it enables foreign influence of U.S. public opinion, promotes harmful behaviors among minors, and undermines Americans’ data privacy.
However, none of these concerns are new or unique to TikTok among social media platforms.

Foreign influence and propaganda

Lawmakers have expressed concern that the Chinese government could influence U.S. public opinion, and thereby politics, by exerting control over what content TikTok users see.
Sen. Dan Sullivan (R-AK) referred to TikTok’s role in challenging ConocoPhillips’ Willow oil drilling project in Alaska as a possible Chinese influence operation meant to undermine U.S. energy dominance.
But U.S-based social media platforms have been and continue to be exploited by a range of foreign governments, including China, and their proxies who use them to attempt to influence U.S. public opinion.
These influence campaigns create and maintain coordinated cross-platform networks.

Hazardous to minors

Some lawmakers also caution that TikTok feeds children content linked to dangerous behaviors, like eating disorders and self-harm.
However, all social media may pose these threats.
Currently, 41 U.S. states and the District of Columbia have filed lawsuits against Meta for the damage allegedly done to minors.

Data security and privacy

Proponents of the TikTok sale-or-ban law also claim that the app constitutes an unacceptable threat to data privacy.
Rep. Gallagher asserted that the Chinese government could use TikTok for espionage to “find Americans, exfiltrate data and track the location of journalists.” Yet, there is little reason to believe Americans’ data is safer with U.S.-based companies.
Meta has had a wide range of data privacy scandals.
Much of this data can be purchased, completely legally, from commercial data brokers, regardless of who owns it.

The need for regulation

Each threat posed by TikTok has also been posed by U.S.-based social media for over a decade.
I believe that lawmakers should take action to address harms caused by U.S. companies seeking profit as well as by foreign companies perpetrating espionage.
To truly protect their constituents, lawmakers would need to enact broad, far-reaching regulation.

Sarah Florini currently receives research funding from the National Endowment for the Humanities.

TikTok fears point to larger problem: Poor media literacy in the social media age

Retrieved on:

fredag, april 19, 2024

The U.S. government moved closer to banning the video social media app TikTok after the House of Representatives attached the measure to an emergency spending bill on Apr.

Key Points:

The U.S. government moved closer to banning the video social media app TikTok after the House of Representatives attached the measure to an emergency spending bill on Apr.
The move could improve the bill’s chances in the Senate, and President Joe Biden has indicated that he will sign the bill if it reaches his desk.
The bill would force ByteDance, the Chinese company that owns TikTok, to either sell its American holdings to a U.S. company or face a ban in the country.
For one, ByteDance can be required to assist the Chinese Communist Party in gathering intelligence, according to the Chinese National Intelligence Law.
The fact that China, a country that Americans criticize for its authoritarian practices, bans social media platforms is hardly a reason for the U.S. to do the same.
Here’s why I think the recent move against TikTok misses the larger point: Americans’ sources of information have declined in quality and the problem goes beyond any one social media platform.

The deeper problem

But the proposed solution of switching to American ownership of the app ignores an even more fundamental threat.
The deeper problem is not that the Chinese government can easily manipulate content on the app.
It is, rather, that people think it is OK to get their news from social media in the first place.
In other words, the real national security vulnerability is that people have acquiesced to informing themselves through social media.

Media and technology literacy

Research suggests that it will only be alleviated by inculcating media and technology literacy habits from an early age.
My colleagues and I have just launched a pilot program to boost digital media literacy with the Boston Mayor’s Youth Council.
Some of these measures to boost media and technology literacy might not be popular among tech users and tech companies.

The Applied Ethics Center at UMass Boston receives funding from the Institute for Ethics and Emerging Technologies. Nir Eisikovits serves as the data ethics advisor to Hour25AI, a startup dedicated to reducing digital distractions.