News of the Cyber World

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MS Hypocrisy: Warns About Cyberattacks While Partnering With Chinese Institutions

Microsoft Warns of Chinese Cyberattacks While Maintaining Ties to China’s Research Institutes

Microsoft has been continuing to warn that the U.S. is vulnerable to cyberattacks from China — yet has still maintained closed ties to Chinese government research institutes that could serve as the training grounds for the communist country’s army of hackers.

Earlier this week, Microsoft’s own analysis provided yet more evidence of how Chinese cyberattacks threaten the U.S. Yet the tech giant remains deeply tied to the communist-run country, more than many other tech companies. The tech giant does not seemed concerned to be deeply involved with researchers in a country that blurs the lines between developing technology and hacking it.

Microsoft maintains a close working relationship with the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS, 中国科学院), a prestigious research academy run by the Chinese government whose institutes have recently been sanctioned by the United States for alleged attempts to acquire U.S. technology to support Chinese military modernization, records show.
Open-source documents show that Microsoft Research Asia (MSRA), Microsoft’s flagship research institute in China, has engaged in research exchanges and technical training of CAS scholars. In at least one case, Microsoft also funded a CAS program.

CAS has long drawn scrutiny from the US government given its status as a Chinese government entity that conducts cutting-edge research into dual-use and sensitive technology, such as advanced AI and quantum computing. In 2022, the CAS Institute of Computing Technology was added to the Department of Commerce’s Entity List, which targets foreign organizations that “pose a significant risk of being or becoming involved in activities contrary to the national security or foreign policy interests of the United States.”

Microsoft has hosted multiple researchers in residency programs at Microsoft Research Asia from the Institute, including at least one who was mentored after the Institute’s designation as a sanctioned entity.

In May 2024, the Department of Commerce added four more CAS institutions to the Entity List. The CAS units were added “for acquiring and attempting to acquire U.S.-origin items in support of advancing China’s quantum technology capabilities, which has serious ramifications for U.S. national security given the military applications.”

In September 2024, the House passed H.R.1516 (DHS Restrictions on Confucius Institutes and Chinese Entities of Concern Act), which, if approved by the Senate, would classify any organization affiliated with Chinese Academy of Science as a “Chinese entity of concern,” barring it from cooperating with US higher educational institutions.

Bad News for Musk & Tesla

Feds Launch Investigation into Tesla’s ‘Full Self-Driving’ System Following Crashes, Pedestrian Death

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has initiated a probe into Tesla’s “Full Self-Driving” system after reports of crashes in low-visibility conditions, including one incident that resulted in a pedestrian’s death.

AP News reports that the NHTSA has launched an investigation into Tesla’s “Full Self-Driving” system following reports of several crashes occurring in low-visibility conditions. The probe, which was opened on Thursday, comes after the company reported four incidents where Tesla vehicles encountered challenges in situations involving sun glare, fog, and airborne dust. Tragically, one of these crashes led to the death of a pedestrian, while another resulted in an injury.

The investigation, covering approximately 2.4 million Tesla vehicles from the 2016 through 2024 model years, aims to assess the “Full Self-Driving” system’s ability to detect and respond appropriately to reduced roadway visibility conditions. NHTSA officials will also examine the contributing circumstances surrounding these crashes and determine if any other similar incidents have occurred under comparable conditions.

This development comes on the heels of Tesla’s recent event at a Hollywood studio, where CEO Elon Musk unveiled plans for a fully autonomous robotaxi without a steering wheel or pedals. Musk has repeatedly promised autonomous vehicles in the past and stated that the company intends to have autonomous Models Y and 3 running without human drivers as early as next year. However, the impact of the current investigation on Tesla’s self-driving ambitions remains unclear.

While there are no federal regulations specifically focused on autonomous vehicles, they must still adhere to broader safety rules. NHTSA would need to approve any robotaxi lacking pedals or a steering wheel, which is unlikely to happen while the investigation is ongoing. If Tesla attempts to deploy autonomous vehicles in its existing models, the decision would likely fall under state regulations.

Tesla has faced scrutiny from NHTSA in the past, having twice recalled its “Full Self-Driving” system under pressure from the agency. The recalls were issued to address issues such as disobedience of traffic laws. These problems were supposed to be resolved through online software updates.

AI & Education in 21st Century

Parents Sue Massachusetts School After Student Punished for Using AI in Class Project

The parents of a student in Massachusetts are taking legal action against their child’s high school for punishing him over the use of AI in a class assignment. According to the parent’s lawsuit, being punished for cheating with AI will cause “irreparable harm” to the student.

The Register reports that the parents of a Massachusetts student, identified only as RNH, have filed a lawsuit against their child’s school. The dispute arose after the student admitted to using AI while working on a Social Studies project in December 2022. Although the student claimed that AI was used solely for research purposes and not to write the entire paper, the school administered a Saturday detention and marked down the project grade.

The parents argue in their court filing that their child “will suffer irreparable harm that far outweighs any harm that may befall the Defendants.” They emphasize the potential impact on their son’s future, stating that he is applying to elite colleges and universities, and the incident could jeopardize his chances in the highly competitive admissions process. The parents are seeking an injunction to clear their son’s academic record of any mention of the incident, restore his eligibility for the National Honor Society, and ensure he receives a B grade for the project without any indication of cheating.

In response, the school has filed a motion to dismiss the case, asserting that the student, along with his classmates, was provided with a copy of the student handbook in the Fall of 2022, which explicitly prohibited the use of AI by students. The policy stated that students should “not use AI tools during in-class examinations, processed writing assignments, homework or classwork unless explicitly permitted and instructed.” The school also presented the policy to the class.

The school argues that “RNH unequivocally used another author’s language and thoughts, be it a digital and artificial author, without express permission to do so.” They further contend that the student failed to cite the use of AI in his notes, scripts, or submitted project, and that his peers were not allowed to “cut corners” by using AI to craft their projects, thus giving RNH an unfair advantage.

Top Eurocrat on "Disinformation" & Evil Musk

Top Eurocrat Calls for ‘Whole of Society’ Battle Against ‘Disinformation’

A leading Eurocrat has called for more controls on speech in order to confront the supposed scourge of “disinformation narratives” within the bloc.

Despite finding that so-called disinformation did not play a major role in deciding the European Parliament elections in June, European Commission Vice President Věra Jourová said that a “whole of society” approach will be necessary to clamp down on speech.

She said in comments reported by POLITICO that this would include “strategic communication, pre-bunking of the disinformation narratives, effective law enforcement for the digital space, strong independent media as well as the research, fact-checking and critical thinking.”

The push for even more censorship by Brussels comes in the wake of an assesment by the suppoedly independent European Digital Media Observatory (EDMO), which claimed that in the lead up to the EU elections, there was the highest ever recorded level of EU-related online disinformation.

However, Jourová admitted that the alleged spike did not produce a “major incident… capable of disrupting the elections.”

Elsa Pilichowski, the public governance director for the Paris-based Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), told the news outlet that “we were predicting, you know, more problems this year than there has been,” and that AI had not been a “game-changer” in the European Parliament elections.

Yet she said that government officials are are “discussing policy options” surrounding the advent of AI, including the potential of the technology to be used to hijack ballots.

“They are in the process of getting ready. But I don’t think we are ready yet for the risks that are coming up,” Pilichowski said.

Elon Musk is ‘The Promoter of Evil’, Says European Commission as Rivalry Roars on

She admits she’s never met him, but she knows Elon Musk struggles with evil: top European Commission figure makes latest strike in an ongoing battle between the ‘X’ owner and the European Union.

Outgoing European Commission Vice President Věra Jourová told Politico on Wednesday that the world’s richest man is a “promoter of evil”, because he does not meet European Union ambitions for censorship on the X, formerly known as Twitter, platform he owns.

The Czech politician, who has been a senior figure in the European Union for over a decade fired the latest shots in a long-rumbling battle of wills between Europe and Musk, over their desire to see Brussels rules triumph over the billionaire’s personal vision of freedom of speech. Previous outbursts have not always gone so well, including for EU censorship tsar Thierry Breton, the main protagonist in this struggle, who was forced out of his post last month after clashing with Musk.

Jourová said: “We started to relativize evil, and he’s helping it proactively. He’s the promoter of evil” and said X is the “main hub for spreading antisemitism now”. The politician admitted she’d never met Musk, yet nevertheless was certain she knew his character. She told the publication: “even without this personal meeting, I would say that out of all the bosses I met, he is the only one who is not able to recognize good and evil.”

It’s ‘scary’ for social media companies to decide what is right to have on their platforms, Jourová said, stating they have “monstrous power in their hands… I’m really scared by digital platforms in bad hands”, clearly implying this monstrous power should be in the hands of the European Union instead.

Within hours of the comments being published, Musk appeared to make an indirect rebuttal, posting a graphic claiming to express that “anti-semitic/anti-Israel views” were more highly correlated with other social media platforms than X. Responding more directly later, Musk wrote somewhat churlishly: “If she wants to know what evil looks like, she just needs a mirror”.

These remarks came just hours after she, in other comments, said the European Union needed to launch a “whole of society” approach to clamping down on speech, saying this would involve at the least: “strategic communication, pre-bunking of the disinformation narratives, effective law enforcement for the digital space, strong independent media as well as the research, fact-checking and critical thinking.”

Snapchat & 2024 Elections

Election Interference: Snapchat Refuses to Reinstate Donald Trump to Platform Used by Young Voters

Vice President Kamala Harris been dominating Snapchat in the battle for young voters, partly due to the platform’s refusal to reinstate former President Donald Trump’s personal account while simultaneously begging his campaign to advertise on the platform.

The New York Times reports that former President Donald Trump has completely avoided advertising on Snapchat for his 2024 presidential campaign, effectively surrendering the popular social media platform to his opponent, Vice President Kamala Harris. This decision comes despite Trump’s public emphasis on courting younger voters, particularly young men.

According to Snapchat’s disclosures, the Harris campaign has invested over $5.3 million in ads on the platform, while the Trump campaign has not spent a single dollar. The former president’s absence from Snapchat can be attributed to his ongoing feud with the app’s parent company, Snap, which banned his personal account shortly after the January 6, 2021 Capitol riot. Unlike other major tech platforms, Snap has not lifted the ban on Trump’s personal account. The company simultaneously refused to reinstate Trump as it asked his campaign to fork over millions of dollars for advertising.
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Snap maintains that while Trump is not allowed to post personally, his campaign is still permitted to purchase political advertisements, which must undergo an internal fact-check process. Despite this, the Trump campaign has refused to spend money on the platform, a stark contrast to his previous campaigns.

Harris has capitalized on this uncontested space, using it to portray herself as a candidate for the future. Her ads feature her campaign theme song, Beyoncé’s “Freedom,” and frame some messages as “back-to-school assignments” to engage college-aged voters.

With the 2024 election looming, both campaigns have ramped up their efforts to reach Gen Z and millennial voters who primarily consume news through social media. Turning out these voters could prove decisive in securing a narrow victory for either candidate.

Meta in Troubles

Parents Win: Judge Rules Meta Must Face Most Claims in States’ Lawsuit over Social Media Addicting Minors

A federal judge has largely denied Meta’s motion to dismiss claims brought by 34 states alleging that the company designed Facebook and Instagram to be addictive for young users, causing harm to children, local governments, and public health.

Courthouse News Service reports that U.S. District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers ruled that many of the consumer protection claims brought by the state attorneys general against Mark Zuckerberg’s Meta can proceed. The judge denied Meta’s request to dismiss parts of the states’ claims under the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA), which prohibits collecting data from social media users under 13 without parental notification and permission.

Meta had argued that neither Facebook nor Instagram is directed at children, and therefore, the COPPA claims should be dismissed. However, Judge Gonzalez Rogers disagreed, stating that third-party content hosted on these platforms can be considered when determining whether the platform, or a portion of it, is directed at children under the act.

The judge found that some of Meta’s design, development, and deployment of certain product features could plausibly constitute unfair or unconscionable practices under federal and state standards. However, she also noted that Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act, which shields online businesses from liability for user-generated content, limits some elements of the lawsuit’s claims.

Certain Facebook and Instagram features that the states claim are designed to get children hooked, such as infinite scroll, autoplay, ephemeral content, disruptive notifications, and the quantification and display of “likes,” are protected under Section 230, according to the judge. Other features, like appearance-altering filters, time restriction features, and Instagram’s multiple account function, are not shielded because they don’t involve altering the publishing of third-party content.

Judge Gonzalez Rogers also rejected Meta’s request to dismiss the states’ failure to warn theory under Section 230, stating that it involves a “constellation of acts which, viewed both individually and holistically, constitute an unfair trade act or practice.” The judge pointed out that the application of Section 230 in this context is still a developing area of legal interpretation and declined to foreclose the states’ and personal injury plaintiffs’ failure-to-warn theories at this early stage.

Tough Luck Zuck: Meta Begins Layoffs Across WhatsApp, Instagram, and Reality Labs Teams

Mark Zuckerberg’s Meta, the parent company of Facebook, has started laying off employees in various departments, including WhatsApp, Instagram, and Reality Labs, as part of targeted reorganizations within specific teams.

The Verge reports that in a move demonstrating that CEO Mark Zuckerberg’s declaration of 2023 as the “year of efficiency” isn’t quite over, Meta has begun laying off employees across several key departments. The affected teams include those working on WhatsApp, Instagram, and the company’s Reality Labs division, which focuses on virtual and augmented reality technologies.

Unlike the mass, company-wide layoffs that Meta implemented in 2022 and early 2023, these latest job cuts appear to be more targeted and coincide with reorganizations within specific teams. The layoffs have impacted employees at various levels, including notable figures such as Jane Manchun Wong, who gained recognition for reporting on unannounced features coming to apps before joining Meta’s Threads team in 2023.

Meta spokesperson Dave Arnold provided a statement explaining, “Today, a few teams at Meta are making changes to ensure resources are aligned with their long-term strategic goals and location strategy. This includes moving some teams to different locations, and moving some employees to different roles. In situations like this when a role is eliminated, we work hard to find other opportunities for impacted employees.”

The latest round of layoffs follows a series of job cuts in Meta’s Reality Labs division earlier this year. In 2022, the company laid off 11,000 employees after overestimating its growth potential in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. Subsequently, in 2023, Meta announced further cuts of 10,000 employees as part of Zuckerberg’s “year of efficiency” initiative.

The targeted nature of these layoffs suggests that Meta is carefully reassessing its resource allocation and strategic priorities within specific departments. By restructuring teams and relocating employees, the company aims to streamline its operations and focus on long-term goals.

Big Tech Defends Use of Nuclear Power for AI

Amazon Bets Big on Small Nuclear Reactors to Power Expanding AI Data Centers

Amazon is investing heavily in advanced small modular nuclear reactors to meet the rapidly growing power demands of its expanding data centers across the United States. Tech giants are finding the power needs of AI data centers to be insatiable — and nuclear power the only way to keep their servers running.

Forbes reports that Amazon has announced three major deals to develop and deploy small modular nuclear reactors (SMRs) to power its data centers in Virginia, Washington, and other states. The tech giant has partnered with Dominion Energy, Energy Northwest, and nuclear startup X-energy to bring more than 5 gigawatts of new power projects online by 2039, enough electricity to power a mid-sized city.

Amazon Web Services (AWS) CEO Matt Garman expressed the company’s growing confidence in nuclear power as a scalable, cost-effective, and “carbon-free” solution to meet the ballooning energy needs driven by the rise of AI. Data centers, particularly those focused on AI applications, consume massive amounts of electricity, with AI-oriented facilities using around 80 megawatts compared to 32 megawatts for a typical data center.

SMRs offer several advantages over traditional nuclear power plants. They are smaller, cheaper, and faster to build, and can be located close to data centers for efficient power delivery. Unlike solar and wind power, SMRs provide reliable, round-the-clock energy, making them ideal for the nonstop operations of data centers and factories.

However, the technology is still in its early stages, with no SMRs currently operating in the United States. Questions remain about their cost and feasibility, and the management of radioactive waste remains a concern. Despite these challenges, the U.S. Department of Energy projects that nuclear capacity could triple from 100 gigawatts in 2024 to 300 gigawatts by 2050 to meet the demands of decarbonization and continuous power supply.

Amazon’s partnership with Dominion Energy aims to develop an SMR plant near the utility’s existing North Anna power station in Louisa County, Virginia, close to two of Amazon’s new $11 billion data center projects. In Washington state, Amazon is funding the development and deployment of SMRs with public power agency Energy Northwest, using technology from nuclear startup X-energy.

Google Joins Fellow Tech Giants in Embracing Nuclear Energy to Power AI Data Centers

Google has struck a deal with Kairos Power to build small modular nuclear reactors to power its AI data centers. The search giant joins Amazon and Microsoft in embracing nuclear energy to feed the insatiable power demands of artificial intelligence.

The tech giant “signed the world’s first corporate agreement to purchase clean nuclear energy from a series of small modular reactors (SMRs), to be developed by @KairosPower – our first-ever advanced nuclear deal,” Michael Terrell, Google’s senior director of energy and climate, announced Monday.
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The small modular nuclear reactors, which will generate 500 megawatts of power, are expected to be completed between 2030 and 2035, and have not yet been created in the United States.

“The grid needs new electricity sources to support AI technologies that are powering major scientific advances, improving services for businesses and customers, and driving national competitiveness and economic growth,” Terrell said in a blog post.

“This agreement helps accelerate a new technology to meet energy needs cleanly and reliably, and unlock the full potential of AI for everyone,” the Google executive added.

Terrell went on to say, “Advancing these power sources in close partnership with supportive local communities will rapidly drive the decarbonization of electricity grids around the world.”

An Expert's Testimony Based on AI Chatbot

Expert Witness Lands in Hot Water with New York Judge for Testimony Based on AI Chatbot

In a recent New York court case, an expert witness’s reliance on Microsoft’s Copilot chatbot to estimate damages in a real estate dispute has been met with criticism from the presiding judge. This is just the latest example of legal professionals and experts being embarrassed by relying on AI tools.

Ars Technica reports that New York Judge Jonathan Schopf, has called attention to the potential dangers of expert witnesses using AI tools, such as Microsoft’s Copilot chatbot, to provide testimony in court cases. The issue came to light during a real estate dispute involving a $485,000 rental property in the Bahamas, which had been included in a trust for a deceased man’s son.

The case revolved around the executrix and trustee, the deceased man’s sister, who was accused of breaching her fiduciary duties by delaying the sale of the property while using it for personal vacations. To prove damages, the surviving son’s legal team relied on expert witness Charles Ranson to calculate the difference between the potential sale price in 2008 and the actual sale price in 2022.

However, Ranson, who specialized in trust and estate litigation, lacked relevant real estate expertise. To compensate for this, he turned to Copilot AI to assist in his calculations.  During his testimony, Ranson was unable to recall the specific prompts he used to arrive at his damages estimate or cite any sources for the information he obtained from the chatbot. He also admitted to having a limited understanding of how Copilot functions and generates outputs. Despite this, Ranson adamantly defended the use of Copilot and other AI tools for drafting expert reports, claiming it to be a generally accepted practice in the field of fiduciary services.

In response to Ranson’s testimony, Judge Schopf took the time to experiment with Copilot himself, attempting to generate the same estimates that Ranson had provided. However, he found that the chatbot produced slightly different answers each time, even when given the same query. This inconsistency raised concerns about the reliability and accuracy of Copilot-generated evidence in court proceedings.