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ABC News
5 days ago
- Politics
- ABC News
'Urgent' demand to outlaw AI tools being used to generate child sexual abuse material
Former Australian of the year Grace Tame says there is an urgent national need to act to prevent AI tools being used to create child abuse material, and that the country must criminalise the possession of freely available child exploitation apps. Child safety advocates including Ms Tame will meet at Parliament House today ahead of a new term of parliament to address the rise of AI being used to sexually exploit children, as well as opportunities to use AI to detect grooming behaviour and child sexual abuse material. The meeting comes as a spotlight has turned on what governments are doing to protect children in the week of another horrific alleged case of abuse at a Melbourne child care centre. Ms Tame, who rose to prominence campaigning for the right to speak under her own name about her abuse, says the government is moving too slowly. "I don't think previous governments and, unfortunately, the current government, have acted swiftly enough when it comes to child safety online," Ms Tame said. The International Centre for Missing and Exploited Children, which is convening the parliament round table, has advocated for Australia to make it an offence to possess or distribute custom-built AI tools designed to produce child sexual abuse material (CSAM). Similar legislation has been introduced in the United Kingdom, which the government has said it is following closely. Intelligence company Graphika reported late in 2023 that non-consensual explicit generative AI tools had moved from being available on niche internet forums into a "scaled" online and monetised business. It found there had been more than 24 million unique visits to the websites of 34 of these tools, and links to access them had risen sharply across platforms like Reddit, X and Telegram. Worse still, the spread of AI-generated exploitation material is diverting police resources from investigations involving real victims. While possession of CSAM is a criminal offence, advocates say Australia should be following other nations, including the United Kingdom and European Union, in outlawing the AI tools themselves. "The reason why this round table is really important … is because when we look at the national framework for child protection that was drafted in 2021, it's a ten-year framework and the presence of AI and the harms being caused by AI are actually not mentioned in that framework," ICMEC Australia chief executive Colm Gannon said. "There has to be regulations put in place to say you need to prevent this from happening, or your platform being used as a gateway to these areas." "This software [has] no societal benefit, they should be regulated and made illegal, and it should be an offence to actually have these models that are generating child sexual abuse material. "It is urgent." Ms Tame said currently, perpetrators were able to purchase AI tools and download them for offline use, where their creation of offending material could not be detected. "It is a wild west, and it doesn't require much sophistication at all," she said. An independent review of the Online Safety Act handed to the government in October last year also recommended "nudify" AI apps used to create non-consensual explicit material should be banned. The government has promised to adopt a recommendation from that review to impose a "duty of care" on platforms to keep children safe, though it is yet to be legislated, and the 66 other recommendations of that review have not been responded to. In a statement, Attorney-General Michelle Rowland said the use of AI to facilitate the creation of child sexual abuse was sickening "and cannot continue". "I am committed to working across government to further consider how we can strengthen responses to evolving harms. This includes considering regulatory approaches to AI in high-risk settings," Ms Rowland said. "Australia has a range of laws that regulate AI. These include economy-wide laws on online safety." Advocates are also raising that government can do to remove barriers limiting law enforcement from being able to use AI tools to detect and fight perpetrators of child abuse. Police have limited their use of facial recognition tools to investigate child abuse online since 2021 when the Privacy Commissioner determined Clearview AI breached Australians' privacy by scraping biometric data from the web without consent, and ordered Australian data to be deleted and the app be banned. Mr Gannon, a former specialist investigator who has helped in national and international child sexual exploitation cases, said, however, there were existing tools that could be used by law enforcement while protecting the privacy of Australians. "That's something the government need to actually start looking at: how do we actually provide tools for law enforcement in the identification of victims of child sexual abuse [that are] compliant with privacy laws in Australia? "We shouldn't disregard the idea of using AI to help us identify victims of child sexual abuse. "There are solutions out there that would also have good oversight by government allowing investigators to access those tools." Clearview AI continues to be used overseas by law enforcement to identify child abuse victims and offenders, but Mr Gannon said there were solutions that could allow "good oversight by government" while also enabling investigators to access the tool. He added that Australia should be working with international partners to harmonise its approach to AI safety so that expectations for developers could be clearly set. Advocates have also warned that the spread of unregulated AI tools has enabled child sex offenders to scale up their offending. Ms Tame said the need for a framework to regulate AI tools extended beyond obviously harmful apps, with even mainstream AI chatbots used by offenders to automate grooming behaviour and gain advice on evading justice or speaking with law enforcement. "In my own experience, the man who offended against me, as soon as he was notified that he was suspended from my high school, he checked himself into a psych ward," she said. "We are seeing offenders not only advancing their methods … we're also seeing their sophistication in evading justice." The government acknowledged last year that current regulations did not sufficiently address the risks posed by AI, and would consider "mandatory safeguards". Last month, the eSafety commissioner said technology platforms had an obligation to protect children. "While responsibility must primarily sit with those who choose to perpetrate abuse, we cannot ignore how technology is weaponised. The tech industry must take responsibility to address the weaponisation of their products and platforms," the commissioner wrote.
Newsweek
21-05-2025
- Business
- Newsweek
How China's Online Army Helped Beijing Fight US Tariff War
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. A social network analysis firm says it has uncovered an operation involving over 1,000 fake accounts working to shape online discourse surrounding the United States-China trade war in Beijing's favor. Newsweek reached out to the Chinese embassy in Washington, D.C., and the U.S. State Department via email for comment. Why It Matters The 90-day ceasefire reached in Geneva, Switzerland, by U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng reduced duties on imported Chinese and U.S. goods by 145 and 125 percent, respectively. While the deal paused what had become a near-total embargo and bought negotiators time, tensions remain. Trump has said the tariffs were necessary to end "unfair" treatment of U.S. exports, revive domestic manufacturing, and close the trade deficit with the U.S.'s third-largest trading partner. In its political messaging, Beijing has sought to rally other countries targeted by tariffs and cast itself as a defender of the global trade order, standing up to bullying. What To Know Graphika, a New York-based company that leverages AI to analyze online communities, says it has identified a network of more than 1,000 X (formerly Twitter) accounts seeking to influence perceptions of the trade war in the social media space. "This included using fake personas purporting to be users in the U.S. and other countries, stealing content from authentic users, and the coordinated amplification of hashtags and media articles," the firm said in a report released Tuesday. Social media accounts posing as real users posted and amplified content promoting the narrative that President Donald Trump's tariffs would harm American livelihoods and the global economy. This file photo shows social media apps Bluesky, X, and Truth Social on a smartphone. This file photo shows social media apps Bluesky, X, and Truth Social on a smartphone. Getty Images Other accounts advanced messages focused on international pushback to the U.S. from countries such as Japan, the United Kingdom, and Canada. Suspected accounts in the network were reportedly easy to spot due to their "coordinated and inauthentic behaviors," Graphika said. For instance, most featured combinations of Western first and last names, with both parts capitalized and joined, such as "BriannaShaw." The most commonly used default usernames are of a format assigned to new accounts, containing long sequences of random digits such as @GeorgeZip35528260. Some accounts listed self-reported locations with glaring errors, such as repeating the same U.S. state three times. Graphika said it was unable to definitively link the accounts to a specific actor or known influence operation. "However, based on an analysis of content disseminated by the operation and similarities between the identified behaviors and past influence operations attributed to Chinese state actors, we assess that the network operator(s) were very likely aligned with the interests of China," the company said. What People Are Saying Chinese President Xi Jinping told representatives from the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States on May 13: "There are no winners in tariff wars or trade wars. Bullying or hegemonism only leads to self-isolation." What Happens Next Prices for some consumer goods are still expected to rise, though the three-month truce has averted the worst cost hikes. Pending a deal, the U.S. retains a 30 percent tariff on Chinese goods—10 percent as a baseline, in line with most other countries, and an additional 20 percent tied to China's role as a major source of chemical precursors for fentanyl. China maintains a 10 percent baseline tariff on U.S. goods. Graphika said it expects influence operations to continue seeking to shape online perceptions of U.S. trade policy.
TECHx
14-02-2025
- TECHx
Scammers Are Looking for Love Too – Here's How to Stay Safe Online - TECHx Media Scammers Are Looking for Love Too – Here's How to Stay Safe Online
Scammers Are Looking for Love Too – Here's How to Stay Safe Online Valentine's Day is a time for love and connection, but for scammers, it's also a prime opportunity to exploit emotions and financial vulnerabilities. Romance scams have become an all-too-common threat, with fraudsters posing as attractive individuals, successful professionals, or even military personnel to deceive unsuspecting victims. These scams are not just limited to dating apps—they spread through social media, emails, and even discussion forums. On February 12, Meta joined forces with leading internet safety expert and ethical hacker Rachel Tobac to share crucial tips on spotting and avoiding romance scams. Their message is clear: staying vigilant and informed is the best defense. How Romance Scammers Operate Romance scammers craft elaborate personas, often using stolen or fake identities to gain trust. They engage victims in heartfelt conversations, build an emotional connection, and then make urgent financial requests—often disguised as emergencies, travel expenses, or investment opportunities. Sometimes, they impersonate celebrities, leveraging their public appeal to manipulate victims. How to Protect Yourself 1. Beware of Unsolicited Messages Scammers frequently initiate contact through 'cold' messages—random connection requests on social media, dating platforms, or messaging apps. If someone you don't know suddenly reaches out, be cautious. Utilize in-app settings on platforms like Messenger, Instagram, and WhatsApp to control who can contact you. 2. Verify, Verify, Verify Be politely paranoid when engaging with new connections online. If someone seems too good to be true, take steps to verify their identity: Look up their profile details online. Check when their account was created—new or sparse profiles can be red flags. Conduct a reverse image search to see if their photos have been stolen from elsewhere. 3. Never Send Money or Personal Information If someone you've just met online asks for money, gift cards, or sensitive details, it's likely a scam. Scammers often fabricate urgent crises to push their victims into making quick payments. Remember: genuine connections do not require financial transactions. How Meta is Combating Romance Scams Beyond raising awareness, Meta actively detects and removes fraudulent accounts. Through collaboration with open-source researchers at Graphika, Meta has identified and shut down scam networks, blocked fraudulent websites, and strengthened its enforcement efforts. As digital fraud tactics evolve, so must our awareness. This Valentine's Day, protect your heart—and your wallet—by staying informed, skeptical, and proactive. Love is real, but so are the scams. Stay safe.
USA Today
31-01-2025
- Business
- USA Today
Chinese state-linked accounts hyped DeepSeek AI launch ahead of US stock rout, firm says
Chinese state-linked accounts hyped DeepSeek AI launch ahead of US stock rout, firm says Show Caption Hide Caption Nvidia hit hard by China's DeepSeek The company that lifted the tech industry and drove A.I. spending for the last several years, suffering the biggest one day wipeout of wealth in U.S. Monday. Cheddar Chinese state-linked social media accounts amplified narratives celebrating the launch of Chinese startup DeepSeek's AI models last week, days before the news tanked U.S. tech stocks, according to online analysis firm Graphika. The accounts involved in the effort, including those of Chinese diplomats, embassies and state media, amplified media coverage of the launch and promoted the idea that DeepSeek challenged U.S. dominance in the AI sector, New York-based Graphika said in a report it provided to Reuters on Thursday. The messaging was rolled out on platforms such as Elon Musk's X and Meta Platforms' META.O Facebook and Instagram, as well as Chinese services Toutiao and Weibo, Graphika said. "This activity shows how China is able to quickly mobilize a range of actors that seed and amplify online narratives casting Beijing as surpassing the U.S. in critical areas of geopolitical competition, including the race to develop and deploy the most advanced AI technologies," Graphika Chief Intelligence Officer Jack Stubbs told Reuters. "We've consistently seen overt and covert Chinese state-linked actors among the first movers in leveraging AI to scale their operations in the information environment." Graphika said it also found a video featuring pro-China, anti-Western content on a YouTube channel whose activity resembled that of Shadow Play, a coordinated influence campaign involving at least 30 YouTube channels that was first identified by the Australian Strategic Policy Institute in 2023. YouTube owner Alphabet GOOGL.O, Meta, X and the Chinese embassy in Washington, D.C. did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the report. DeepSeek disruption: Big Tech faces heat as China's DeepSeek sows doubts on billion-dollar spending Graphika said it found a small spike in discussion about DeepSeek's advancements in relation to OpenAI's ChatGPT on X immediately after DeepSeek released its models on Jan. 20, followed by a much larger uptick that started on Friday and continued to build over the weekend. By Monday, DeepSeek's free AI assistant had overtaken U.S. rival ChatGPT in downloads from Apple's AAPL.O app store and global investors dumped U.S. tech stocks, wiping $593 billion off chipmaker Nvidia's NVDA.O market value in a record one-day loss for any company on Wall Street. Nvidia declined to comment on the Graphika report. DeepSeek's researchers claim to have developed aspects of their AI model at a far lower cost than U.S. rivals, sparking worries that U.S. companies that have plowed tens of billions of dollars into AI data centers could face a price war with China. Shares of Microsoft MSFT.O, a major investor in OpenAI that operates data centers on behalf of the ChatGPT creator, slid earlier this week when it disclosed slower cloud revenue growth than Wall Street expected while it continued to plow billions into capital expenditures. Microsoft and Meta have vowed to continue deep investments in AI for the foreseeable future. DeepSeek's rise to prominence was celebrated in China as a sign that the nation was beating back Washington's attempts to contain China's tech industry with curbs on technology exports. In the U.S., DeepSeek's accomplishments sparked accusations that it had improperly accessed technology from OpenAI and other leaders, though the allegations remain unproved. The U.S. Commerce Department is looking into whether DeepSeek has been using U.S. chips that are not allowed to be shipped to China, a person familiar with the matter said. Reporting by Katie Paul in New York and Stephen Nellis in San Francisco; Editing by Himani Sarkar
Yahoo
31-01-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Chinese state-linked accounts hyped DeepSeek AI launch ahead of US stock rout, Graphika says
By Katie Paul and Stephen Nellis NEW YORK (Reuters) - Chinese state-linked social media accounts amplified narratives celebrating the launch of Chinese startup DeepSeek's AI models last week, days before the news tanked U.S. tech stocks, according to online analysis firm Graphika. The accounts involved in the effort, including those of Chinese diplomats, embassies and state media, amplified media coverage of the launch and promoted the idea that DeepSeek challenged U.S. dominance in the AI sector, New York-based Graphika said in a report it provided to Reuters on Thursday. See for yourself — The Yodel is the go-to source for daily news, entertainment and feel-good stories. By signing up, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy. The messaging was rolled out on platforms such as Elon Musk's X and Meta Platforms' Facebook and Instagram, as well as Chinese services Toutiao and Weibo, Graphika said. "This activity shows how China is able to quickly mobilize a range of actors that seed and amplify online narratives casting Beijing as surpassing the U.S. in critical areas of geopolitical competition, including the race to develop and deploy the most advanced AI technologies," Graphika Chief Intelligence Officer Jack Stubbs told Reuters. "We've consistently seen overt and covert Chinese state-linked actors among the first movers in leveraging AI to scale their operations in the information environment." Graphika said it also found a video featuring pro-China, anti-Western content on a YouTube channel whose activity resembled that of Shadow Play, a coordinated influence campaign involving at least 30 YouTube channels that was first identified by the Australian Strategic Policy Institute in 2023. YouTube owner Alphabet, Meta, X and the Chinese embassy in Washington, D.C. did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the report. Graphika said it found a small spike in discussion about DeepSeek's advancements in relation to OpenAI's ChatGPT on X immediately after DeepSeek released its models on Jan. 20, followed by a much larger uptick that started on Friday and continued to build over the weekend. By Monday, DeepSeek's free AI assistant had overtaken U.S. rival ChatGPT in downloads from Apple's app store and global investors dumped U.S. tech stocks, wiping $593 billion off chipmaker Nvidia's market value in a record one-day loss for any company on Wall Street. Nvidia declined to comment on the Graphika report. DeepSeek's researchers claim to have developed aspects of their AI model at a far lower cost than U.S. rivals, sparking worries that U.S. companies that have plowed tens of billions of dollars into AI data centers could face a price war with China. Shares of Microsoft, a major investor in OpenAI that operates data centers on behalf of the ChatGPT creator, slid earlier this week when it disclosed slower cloud revenue growth than Wall Street expected while it continued to plow billions into capital expenditures. Microsoft and Meta have vowed to continue deep investments in AI for the foreseeable future. DeepSeek's rise to prominence was celebrated in China as a sign that the nation was beating back Washington's attempts to contain China's tech industry with curbs on technology exports. In the U.S., DeepSeek's accomplishments sparked accusations that it had improperly accessed technology from OpenAI and other leaders, though the allegations remain unproved. The U.S. Commerce Department is looking into whether DeepSeek has been using U.S. chips that are not allowed to be shipped to China, a person familiar with the matter said.
