Despite its public criticism of both Palantir and Mandelson, the UK government has entered into extensive contracts with the US tech giant, signing a defence contract worth 240 million pounds ($323m) in January. The contract was awarded to Palantir directly, while another, worth 330 million pounds ($444m) and involving the UK's Ministry of Health, was awarded in November 2023 following a bidding process.
I believe a conviction without evidence is not justice, it could be part of a cover-up and even a crime. I am willing to share evidence with national and international regulators.
Across the world, governments are redefining data. It is no longer a commercial byproduct, but a strategic resource. One that carries economic weight, political influence, and long-term national consequences. At the center of this shift is what most people never consciously see but continuously produce: their digital DNA.
This large-scale and invasive AI-enabled surveillance of public spaces is not legal, necessary or proportionate to the legitimate aim of providing security. History shows us that this is the latest tool used by governments to invade the privacy of citizens and stifle freedom of movement and expression.
On the instructions of President Donald Trump, the United States is withdrawing from international organizations that focus on cybersecurity and hybrid threats. There are concerns within the cybersecurity sector that this decision could undermine global resilience to digital threats. As reported by Computing, the US government claims that these partnerships are not sufficiently effective and are not in line with national interests.
Grok, a standalone app as well as a feature on Elon Musk's social media platform X, generated 3 million sexualized images in the 11 days after its image-editing feature was released in December, the UK-based Center for Countering Digital Hate reported. Users digitally stripped real women in images and more than 20,000 apparent children manipulating many into sexual poses. Musk responded dismissively, reposting an AI-generated image of a toaster in a bikini, saying he couldn't stop laughing about it.
For the past two weeks, X has been flooded with AI-manipulated nude images, created by the Grok AI chatbot. An alarming range of women have been affected by the non-consensual nudes, including prominent models and actresses, as well as news figures, crime victims, and even world leaders. A December 31st research paper from Copyleaks estimated roughly one image was being posted each minute, but later tests found far more.
The Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) has rounded up several of these counter surveillance projects, and perhaps unsurprisingly many of these have to do with Flock, best known for its automated license plate reader (ALPR). Flock operates the largest network of surveillance cameras in America, and, while it has contracts with thousands of police departments and municipalities across the US, sometimes ICE gains access to this footage, according to US Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR) and those who have looked into Flock's misuse.
ICE has been invading U.S. cities, targeting, surveilling , assaulting , and people who are undocumented immigrants. They also have targeted people with work permits , asylum seekers , permanent residents (people holding "green cards"), naturalized citizens , and even citizens by birth. ICE has spent hundreds of millions of dollars on surveillance technology to spy on anyone - and potentially everyone-in the United States.
The Cyber Security Agency of Singapore said advanced persistent threat UNC3886 dug itself into the networks of all four major telecom providers, sparking an 11-month digital eviction effort involving more than 100 personnel from across government, military, intelligence, and industry. Branded "Operation Cyber Guardian," the cleanup saw the state and telco engineers teaming up to flush the intruders out while keeping the nation's phone and data pipes flowing.
