A warning and a relief.
U.S. officials are advising Americans to use encrypted messaging apps amid a significant cyberattack on major telecommunications companies like AT&T and Verizon. The hacking campaign, known as Salt Typhoon, is one of the largest intelligence breaches in U.S. history, with no clear timeline for resolution. Officials indicate that China was behind the attacks, aiming to spy on customers. They recommend using encryption for text and voice communications to protect against interception. The FBI has noted that hackers accessed call records, live phone calls of specific targets, and systems used by law enforcement for tracking communications. Privacy advocates urge the use of end-to-end encryption in apps like Signal and WhatsApp to safeguard sensitive information.
And coverage in The Conversation gives some insight into AI for misinformation. In a landmark year for global elections, 2024 saw approximately three point seven billion eligible voters across seventy-two countries participate, marking it as a “super-cycle” year for democracy. While many feared that artificial intelligence would lead to rampant misinformation, a recent Pew survey revealed that nearly eight times as many Americans expected AI to be used for negative purposes rather than positive ones in the elections. Despite these concerns, AI proved beneficial in various ways, such as language translation, where governments and politicians leveraged AI to communicate with diverse communities. Additionally, some candidates utilized AI chatbots to engage voters directly, and AI was employed in political fundraising and strategy development. However, the year was not without issues; AI-generated misinformation still emerged, albeit without the catastrophic impact that many anticipated.
Why do we care?
Both stories are about risk management. IT service providers should anticipate heightened demand for cybersecurity solutions tailored to harden telecom systems, especially as dependency on mobile communication grows. An obvious point of assistance is ensuring all communications are encrypted.
While fears of AI-driven misinformation dominated pre-election discourse, the reality was more balanced. AI contributed positively to translation, voter engagement, and fundraising efforts, countering some of the doom-laden narratives. However, the subtle spread of AI misinformation highlights ongoing risks of unregulated AI outputs.
Focus on risk management.