Many authoritarian governments, such as those in Iran, Myanmar, Venezuela, Zimbabwe, now have the capability to surveil their own citizens with technical tools. Many of them were enabled by Chinese technology companies, such as Huawei, Hikvision, Dahua and ZTE, as well as U.S. and Israeli companies that have exported artificial intelligence surveillance technology to these countries.
Technology facilitates the communication and spread of information in ways that can result in public benefit. In particular, information communications technologies, such as social media, can serve as a powerful tool for information dissemination. In fact, they often serve as a platform for governments to communicate with their constituents. However, the information environment is much broader than governments, and many non-state actors also play large roles in the ways information and disinformation can be spread. Understanding the effects of circulating disinformation provides insight into the complex dynamics of an evolving information environment. The focus of this blog post is on the dynamics of COVID-19 disinformation within ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) countries. Our research finds that the influence of disinformation, from both foreign and domestic sources, is continuing to grow, requiring adjustment to domestic goals and hindering public health in relation to the COVID-19 pandemic.
United States intelligence agencies have been issuing dire warnings of an impending war between the Russian Federation and Ukraine. Estimates of upwards of 175,000 soldiers massing at multiple points on the Ukraine-Russian frontier are ominous, yet any battle over Ukraine is likely to include an increasingly potent electronic warfare (EW) dimension that would be unlike any prior conflict to date. Over the last 7 years, the Russian Federation has been strategically positioning and testing a number of different technical assets. These assets comprise a suite of mobile tactical intelligence collection and offensive EW tools that extend the contact lines well beyond the trenches of the existing ATO.
Technology facilitates the communication and spread of information in ways that can result in public benefit. In particular, information communications technologies, such as social media, can serve as a powerful tool for information dissemination. In fact, they often serve as a platform for governments to communicate with their constituents. However, the information environment is much broader than governments, and many non-state actors also play a large role in the way information and disinformation can be spread. Understanding the effects of circulating disinformation provides insight into the complex dynamics of an evolving information environment. The focus of this blog post is on the dynamics of COVID-19 disinformation within ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) countries. Our research finds that the influence of disinformation, from both foreign and domestic sources, is continuing to grow, requiring adjustment to domestic goals and hindering public health in relation to the COVID-19 pandemic.
In early November, I had the chance to participate in the 72nd Student Conference on U.S. Affairs with two other members of the Virginia Tech community. Hosted annually at West Point, Delegates from prominent universities and colleges across the country are invited to participate in drafting memorandum on a pressing issue to a relevant U.S. office. After travelling up the Hudson Valley to where the conference was hosted, we were assigned to roundtables on various issues facing the United States. These roundtables ranged from Social Media and the Weaponization of Information to Inequality in an Era of Disruptive Technology. Our delegates were all assigned to the roundtable regarding 21st century vulnerabilities: Critical Infrastructure and Cybersecurity. The United States Military Academy boasts an impressive campus with an almost foreboding sense of history. West Point alumni include multiple U.S. presidents whose statues are prominently displayed over the campus. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, we were only allowed to interact with a select few cadets. Nevertheless, the legacy of West Point seemed to be one that cadets took seriously.
Under the current Chinese President, Xi Jinping, China has risen from a developing country to an economic powerhouse. Although the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) has implemented several economic and social reforms, President Xi also emphasizes strengthening China’s image, both domestically and internationally. He has done so, in part, by glorifying the idea of the “China Dream,” which is a vision adopted by the Chinese public that sees China as a wealthy and developed country that takes the lead in global affairs and whose state ideology appeals to the world. The ultimate goal of the CCP now is to become a powerhouse that has a global influence. To do this China is using state media as well as domestic and global social media sites to increase the push of disinformation, the deliberate posting of false information to influence public opinion. Leaders in Beijing have decided to target areas that they believe are essential to giving the CCP and China the image of a unified and globally powerful nation. The effects of which can be seen in the events and news surrounding Hong Kong and Taiwan.
Disinformation has become a much larger problem globally within the past decade, and with the increasing volume of disinformation comes a technological revolution. Automated disinformation has taken over the field, with bots amplifying, spreading, and even creating content autonomously. Many new advancements have allowed individuals as well as state actors to create heretofore unseen amounts of content and reach larger audiences than ever before. These effects could be seen during the 2016 election in the US, during the present COVID-19 pandemic globally, in Chinese political efforts to undermine Taiwan, and in many other instances around the world.
Deepfakes are videos or photos that have been digitally changed whether by AI or humans to create an image/video that is seemingly realistic. These videos can include alterations in which someone’s face has been digitally imputed to say anything the programmer wants. Deepfakes result in nearly indistinguishable vocal intonations and facial movements from the original person. The creation of deepfakes have and will continue to cause disinformation to be more trustworthy and hard to counter, which makes them extremely dangerous.
In the middle of the night you awake with a sudden stomach pain and you feel like you can’t move you instinctually grab your phone and call 911. An ambulance arrives and rushes you to the hospital where you begin to receive treatment from an emergency room doctor. Now you might not understand everything about that doctor that is treating you, for example, you don’t know where they attended medical school, nor do you know their grade point average upon graduation, but you are certain that the medical field has strict guidelines and procedures and that to treat you that physician must have passed a medical licensing exam. But what if that doctor was replaced with a computer? Would you still feel comfortable? Computers are used in almost every aspect of our daily lives but would you trust one with yours?
“The pen is mightier than the sword.” That the phrase highlights the notable influence of words and their potential power to change the world for the better. However, that same power can make words a far more violent and cruel weapon than a sword. In the case of misinformation, words can damage a countless number of lives and the roots of democracy when wielded maliciously. Kenya has recently fallen victim to a number of disinformation attacks that have manipulated the society and the politics and led to the deaths of thousands of innocent lives.
Over the past few years, the speed at which disinformation is created, distributed, and consumed has become a growing concern for governments, businesses, and citizens. The spread of false information isn’t a new phenomenon, and the terms disinformation and fake news can be traced back to the 1950s. The rise of social media and distribution of information online has allowed people to produce and quickly spread false information through decentralized and distributed networks, vastly increasing its impact. Much of this information is posted with malicious intent and results in a potentially harmful impact on society. The result of this flood of disinformation is a new era of digital and political communication.
Doctor Lewis Zimmerman looks real, he treats patients, moves in a physical space, answers questions, and would pass the Turing and Lovelace tests, but he is an AI doctor on the science fiction show Star Trek Deep Space Nine. Yet as the show opens Benjamin Sisko, captain of the space station expresses doubts about having an artificial intelligence for a doctor. Doctor Zimmerman in the spirit of the show jokes with the reluctant Captain Sisko and eventually they are able to work out their differences and the show moves on introducing occasional plot twists that place the fate of the living occupants in the hands of an often emotional and moody AI.
Who decides what is right and wrong? As humans we are taught by our parents/guardians the difference between right and wrong and we are taught the morals and values that not only guide our lives but that also serve to make us functioning members of society. That being said morals and values may have minor variations from person to person but can have large differences when it comes to different cultures. For example, in some countries it is considered rude to leave a tip for a meal because excellent service is naturally expected and employees are paid a living wage whereas in other countries tipping is generally accepted as a societal norm and it is considered rude not to leave a tip. As advancements are made in regards to Artificial Intelligence a question arises… what are the repercussions of the decisions made by Artificial Intelligence. Or to rephrase who is going to face the consequences that result from Artificial Intelligence making decisions?
Often when people think of space exploration, the first thing that comes to mind is Neil Armstrong setting foot on the moon. Although this was a remarkable achievement, space exploration also results in scientific advances that regularly make a positive impact right here on earth. Many of the discoveries we learned about in grade school, products we could not live without, and new careers we hope to work in all have their roots in space exploration. Whether people believe it or not, space exploration is an integral part of bettering human lives.
Grateful Dead Lyricist John Perry Barlow once wrote in “A Declaration of the Independence for Cyberspace” of a potential place free from state intervention where a new social contract might arise in the absence of privilege and prejudice, economic power, military force, and station of birth. Regrettably, Barlow’s vision has not come to pass. Instead, cyberspace has been invaded by all those qualities he sought independence from and more. Writing following a contentious election in the United States (US) and amidst a pandemic that has forced billions to work and socially interact intermediate through technologies, it is difficult not to question whether cyberspace has itself become in so many ways a diseased space, where the worst qualities of humanity are cultivated.
Over the last several decades there has been a shift in standard models of healthcare both in the United States and globally. Patient centric approaches in health care reorient the power relationships of physicians and patients. This shift elevates the needs and challenges of the patients and builds a more robust and communicative relationship to foster improved health outcomes. Recently, Nataliya Brantly, VT STS PhD Student and Dr. Aaron Brantly, Department of Political Science, Tech4Humanity Lab Director, took up the issue of patient centric care and focused on expanding it to encompass cybersecurity concerns.
This week, my new article with Eric Jardine and Gareth Owenson, “The potential harms of the Tor anonymity network cluster disproportionately in free countries,” came out in PNAS. Using a global sample of Tor users, we show that a higher percentage of Tor clients in politically free countries go to hidden services sites than in less free countries. Past studies have shown that much of the traffic to hidden services sites goes to cryptomarkets and child abuse imagery sites. The corollary is that higher % of clients in repressive regimes use Tor to access the surface web.
By Peter Muskett
A crucial component for analyses within the field of big data analytics is the inherent connection data has with geography and location. [BA1] A commonly cited adage proposes “that at least 80% of all data are geographic in nature” either through the provision of imagery or the ability for data to be quickly georeferenced. Aggregating and interpreting this geospatial data as a means to “empower understanding, insight, decision-making, and prediction” is a core feature of GIS and for years has served as a driving force behind both governmental and corporate processes of operation. Utilizing GIS to build and implement analyses of Location Intelligence is not a new concept; however, the manner and rate at which these existing practices have evolved and paired with new systems of AI and machine learning to build Geospatial Artificial Intelligence (geoAI) have been particularly notable. The deployment of these technologies has the potential to profoundly impact the human condition, therefore there is a growing concern as to how geospatial data can be responsibly collected while still protecting the privacy and overall well-being of the populations being analyzed.
To best answer this question, it is first necessary to examine the benefits of expanding geoAI capabilities to understand why the field has seen an increase in investment in recent years. Due to its interdisciplinarity, the field of geoAI has seen a flexible and diverse customer base utilize its capabilities for a variety of purposes. In business, many companies view investment in geoAI as a matter of survival in a constantly evolving marketplace. Manager of General Motors Advanced Data Analytics, Bruce Wong, for example, states that a pressing concern in the market is that a considerable portion of consumers today find it both financially and psychologically easier to search for and purchase goods through the internet or local online marketplaces rather than through the more traditional means of going to a physical location such as a dealership. As a result, the explosion of commerce conducted through the internet has played a substantial role in pushing companies such as GM to bolster their geospatial artificial intelligence capabilities as a means to strategically place dealership locations to maximize profit in areas likely to see substantial payoff.
From a standpoint of public safety, law enforcement departments have begun heavily integrating geoAI to improve policing and respond more effectively to crime. Methods to accomplish this task range from creation of comprehensive crime maps to the real time analysis of video camera feeds that can recognize “aggressive behavior” and “biometric features.” As police departments in the United States face increasing societal pressure to alter their operations to better serve their communities it will be worthwhile to track into the near future whether this substantial investment into geoAI capabilities will not only decrease crime rates but also improve cultural perception and legitimacy through better policing. Ultimately, this serves to illustrate the rising prevalence of geoAI as a crucial measure for the private industry to remain competitive and relevant to consumers seeking the most optimal and convenient means to purchase, and for governing bodies through the utilization of new technologies to ensure order and safety.
What makes this pairing between remote imaging, georeferencing, and artificial intelligence as a driving force behind profit and public safety particularly concerning, however, is its potential for deepening surveillance practices and risks of data breaches. In the case of remote viewing through the usage of drones or satellites there is almost no possibility for individuals to provide “informed consent” for the monitoring of their private property, if they are even aware of the surveillance in the first place. For this reason, many question the ethics of analyses deriving from information taken without a citizen’s explicit awareness. This also does not begin to take into consideration the detrimental psychological effects and negative public perception that the utilization of UAVs can have on a population. Studies have demonstrated that those, especially who have experienced armed conflict or life in an authoritarian regime, closely link unmanned aircraft with “evidence of spying” and “collaboration” with oppressive governing bodies. Therefore, the presence of such technology, even if used for simple purposes such as detecting land change, can cause distress and mistrust within a population. Additionally, a growing worry regarding the collection of data of this nature is the increasing ease of de-anonymization of publicly available records by linking “data back to individuals using their geographical location.” This concern is compounded by the fact that “comprehensive privacy, data protection and storage standards may be largely non-existent” in states across the globe, highlighting how in certain regions the technology has far outpaced political efforts to responsibly collect, de-identify, and share personal data of citizens.
What has become increasingly clear is that the technologies utilized in geoAI are evolving at a rapid rate and the concerns regarding privacy and general well-being will only worsen if proper action is not taken in the present. Developing technologies such as hyperspectral imaging, which utilizes hundreds to thousands of wavelengths in an image capturing process at the pixel level in comparison with the three to ten bands employed by traditional multispectral imaging, highlight a future characterized by an enhanced ability to quickly and remotely tell a much deeper story about the landscape, or lifeforms, captured than ever before. Already, studies of hyperspectral imaging in a human context have demonstrated the ability to remotely detect and classify human emotion, such as happiness, based on facial expression and tissue oxygen saturation, and disease diagnosis by remotely differentiating between healthy and malignant tissue in a patient. While developing techniques utilized in geoAI such as these present a new and exciting future that can greatly improve the lives and of many, others maintain a justifiable fear of the possibilities if this data is deployed by actors with malicious intent. Additionally, even if used by actors of public trust there exists the question as to whether it is being used responsibly and properly to ensure that uses of the data are not inaccurate or misleading.
At present, a massive and instantaneous collection and analysis of human sentiment and physical health through remote sensing and AI is still a distant prospect. Presently, there are a multitude of barriers ranging from the real-time analysis of big data, to potential privacy concerns over widespread data collection that might deter implementation. At the very least, however, it serves as a relevant example of how geoAI might contribute both to understanding the human condition and uncovering previously hidden patterns, while also raising legitimate concerns of scope and availability. Of particular concern is the utilization of geoAI by government and corporations absent of sufficient legal or regulatory oversight.
Computational Thinking (CT) forms the backbone behind cybersecurity, autonomous systems, data sciences, and many of the tech jobs. Understanding CT instills in the learners the manner in which computer scientists and cyber professionals think about the problems at hand. Needless to say, the construction of modern-day digital artifacts is highly complex. The skill set needed to adequately create interesting programs (such as Pacman and other apps) using today’s programming languages often requires multiple years of computer science training. As we enter the world of smart homes and smart cities, the need to be able to think, reason, interact with, and program these digital devices is of paramount importance.
Every day new technologies, in particular Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML), are being developed and implemented on farms in the United States and around the world. Yet, rarely is the changing nature of technology on farms considered from a human perspective. Specifically, is AI in agriculture, in fact, benefiting or harming humanity?
@BitsBytesRights
