X fails to manage disinformation over Israel-Hamas conflict
Researchers have warned that fake posts linked to the latest escalation of conflict between Israel and Hamas are proliferating online and especially so on X.
The platform has been singled out as it recently stopped using a software tool designed to identify when different accounts shared the same of similar media, which formed an important part of identifying disinformation campaigns.
Additionally, it has been noted that Elon Musk also largely fired the department responsible for addressing disinformation over the last year.
Coverage from Wired shares an anecdote from a researcher noting that credible regional news outlets were “virtually impossible to find” on the platform compared to 2021, while “xenophobic goons” were being boosted by CEO Elon Musk.
Elsewhere outlets note the company’s new paid bluetick policy is giving preferential status to paying accounts, many of which are sharing old and doctored footage, such as video game clips being passed off as actual combat or football star Cristiano Ronaldo holding the Palestinian flag.
Publishers react to X removing headlines from posts
As of last week, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter no longer automatically features headlines in posts containing links.
As a result, publishers, including The New York Times and The Washington Post have shifted their strategy for posting to the platform, encouraging journalists to place more context and descriptive text in the post body. HuffPost is advising to use images that show the headline, while USA Today is auto-populating tweet text with article headlines.
Musk has explained the shift, saying: “Our algorithm tries to optimize time spent on X, so links don’t get as much attention, because there is less time spent if people click away”.
This is part of a trend of increased antagonism towards publishers on X’s platform, following the removal of verification badges, and the slowing of page load speed of links to news organizations.
Playing digital defense in Asia Pacific
Japan and eight ASEAN countries (Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, the Philippines and Vietnam) pledged to strengthen private sector cybersecurity cooperation at a recent conference in Tokyo.
The need for cooperation is clear. According to IBM, Asia Pacific was the most targeted region for cyberattacks last year (31% of global incidents), with Japan hardest hit.
Most organizations (62%) in APAC say they are not prepared to handle cyberattacks, according to a recent survey by Cloudflare, with 78% having experienced at least one cybersecurity incident in the last 12 months.
Japan and its neighbors have promised closer collaboration to improve defenses and reduce vulnerabilities. But as FGS Global advises, growing cyber-threats, particularly posed by generative AI, will also require companies themselves to prepare, to recognize the threats and to respond with increasing precision.
TikTok faces obstacles in Southeast Asia expansion drive
TikTok has promised to address issues raised by the Malaysian government regarding non-compliance with local laws, according to media reports.
Company representatives are expected to meet with Malaysia’s communications regulator next week. The Southeast Asian country's communications minister earlier accused TikTok of inadequately moderating misleading or defamatory content.
Earlier this month, the Indonesian government banned ecommerce transactions on TikTok Shop in a bid to protect the country’s micro, small and medium-sized enterprises. Malaysia reportedly intends to investigate a similar policy.
Apple starts enforcing new app checks in China
Starting from October 29, Apple began requiring app developers to submit the "internet content provider (ICP) filing" when they publish new apps on its China App Store.
An ICP filing is a longtime registration system, required for websites to operate legally in China, and most local app stores including those operated by Tencent and Huawei have adopted it since at least 2017.
Apple's loose ICP policy has allowed it to offer far more mobile apps than local app rivals and helped the U.S. tech giant boost its popularity in China.
Sony confirms server security breaches that exposed employee data
Sony has alerted 6,800 current and former employees that, following a security breech in May, their personal information had been compromised.
A ransomware group, known as C10p, claimed responsibility for breaking into a Sony server in June.
The breach occurred due to a vulnerability in the MOVEit Transfer platform that Sony Interactive Entertainment was using. Sony is one of many organizations that have been affected by MOVEit cyberattacks.
