A video circulating on Russian Telegram claims to show Chinese-speaking soldiers fighting for Russia in Selidove, Ukraine. One of them has written “Li Jingjing was here” on a wall. (Via Teacher Li: twitter.com/whyyoutouzhe... )

NEW: Elon Musk bypassed Biden to help arrange a prisoner swap between Iran and Italy. Iran traded Italian journalist Cecilia Sala for an Iranian man indicted by the Justice Dept. Biden's aides say it's a bad deal. Our @nytimes.com story: www.nytimes.com/2025/01/15/w...

Here's me, nearly two years ago in the Sydney Morning Herald, advocating for comprehensive legislation to address all current and future state-controlled apps from authoritarian regimes, rather than focusing solely on banning TikTok. www.smh.com.au/technology/i...

The ban-or-sell law may set up American policymakers for years of “whack-a-mole” with various apps that violate requirements not to be controlled by a foreign adversary, said @dariimpio.bsky.social, a China analyst at @aspi-org.bsky.social. www.washingtonpost.com/world/2025/0...

The release of Mohammad Abedini follows Iran's recent freeing of Italian journalist Cecilia Sala, sparking speculation that Sala may have been a bargaining chip.

NEW: Platformer has obtained the dehumanizing new guidelines moderating what people can now say about trans people on Facebook and Instagram. Employees tell me these changes are likely to inspire more violence against LGBT people: www.platformer.news/meta-new-tra...

These teenagers and young men — 95% of whom are Black, Latinx, or Filipino — earn between $2.20 and $4 per hour, plus an additional $1 an hour when they’re actively fighting fires, according to the DJJ. ⤵️

Jan Michálek, a Czech TikToker with over a million followers, accepted an all-expenses-paid trip to China via a Czechia-based agency, where he collaborated with a crew from state-owned China Radio International. chinaobservers.eu/tiktokers-tr... @dariimpio.bsky.social @mattknight.bsky.social

Our team at Cyber, Tech & Security @aspi-org.bsky.social has published the last edition of our Monthly Roundup, summarising the big news of 2024 and looking out at what to expect in 2025 - have a read! aspicts.substack.com/p/the-monthl...

Secondo l’inchiesta di BBC un'azienda italiana usava i pomodori provenienti dallo Xinjiang per i i suoi prodotti distribuiti all'estero, che però venivano descritti in vari modi come “italiani”

🎙️ NEW PODCAST 🎙️ In the latest episode of Stop the World, David Wroe sits down with Kevin Yam and Ted Hui - two of the world's most prominent exiled Hong Kong democracy activists - to discuss the current state of democracy in Hong Kong. 🎧 Don't miss it! Listen now 👉 bit.ly/3ZjPWWr

In this episode of Stop the World, Ted Hui discusses the significance of the recent sentencing of 45 pro-democracy activists in Hong Kong. "It's a historic turning point of the judiciary turning from democracy, from freedom, and from judicial independence". Hear more 👉 bit.ly/3ZjPWWr

As China tightens its grip on governance in Hong Kong and puts democracy activists under greater pressure, what can we expect for the future of the region? In the latest episode of Stop the World, Kevin Yam provides his thoughts on the future of democracy in 🇭🇰. 🎧 Listen here 👉 bit.ly/3ZjPWWr

The term ‘northern frontier culture’ appears to be part of the CCP’s growing campaign to weaken Mongolian ethnic identity and instead push a Han-centric national identity through the elimination of Mongolian language education and other measures. www.aspistrategist.org.au/northern-fro...

Read the full report here: www.aspi.org.au/report/persu...

A new report from @aspi-org.bsky.social has taken a look at the emergence of persuasive technologies being designed, developed and deployed in China. GUEST: @dariimpio.bsky.social www.abc.net.au/listen/progr...

Very proud of the ASPI team that researched and wrote this report, including @dariimpio.bsky.social @nathanattrill.bsky.social @fergus.bsky.social and Tilla Hoja. With amazing cover art by @badiucao.bsky.social!

Companies based in other countries are developing this technology too. No matter where they are developed, persuasive technologies pose complex risks to human freedoms. But risks are far higher when an entire technology ecosystem is under the control of an authoritarian state.

ASPI has identified leading Chinese companies including Midu, Goertek, Suishi, Silicon Intelligence, and others that are developing next-generation persuasive technologies and putting them to work for China's propaganda, public security, and/or military bureaus.

China’s commercial sector is already a global leader in developing and using persuasive technologies. This presents a risk that the CCP could use persuasive technologies commercially developed in China to pursue illiberal and authoritarian ends, both domestically and abroad.

Emerging persuasive technologies such as generative artificial intelligence (AI), ambient technologies and neurotechnology interact with the human mind and body in far more intimate and subconscious ways, and at far greater speed and efficiency, than previous technologies.

The rapid adoption of persuasive technologies—any digital system that shapes users’ behaviors by exploiting physiological and cognitive vulnerabilities—will challenge national security in ways that are difficult to predict. Full report here: www.aspi.org.au/report/persu...

New ASPI report: We identify several prominent Chinese companies that are putting persuasive technologies to work for China’s propaganda, military and public-security agencies. What are persuasive technologies and why does this matter for democracies? Keep reading:

🆕 report by ASPI's amazing China Investigations and Analysis team! Which persuasive technologies are Chinese companies developing, and how does this intersect with party-state objectives and the future of national security?

There’s an urgent need for more fit-for-purpose, proactive and adaptive approaches to regulating persuasive technologies. Accordingly, we set out policy recommendations focused on preparing for and countering the potential malicious use of the next generation of those technologies.

China’s commercial sector is already a global leader in developing and using persuasive technologies. This report emphasises that Chinese tech companies are on the verge of developing and deploying technological applications with unprecedented persuasive capabilities that have dual-use potential.

Persuasive-technology capabilities are evolving rapidly, and concepts of and approaches to regulation are struggling to keep pace: Once the genie is out of the bottle, the national security implications will be extremely difficult, if not impossible, to contain—as the Collingridge dilemma warns.

Emerging persuasive technologies interact with the human mind and body in far more intimate and subconscious ways, and at far greater speed and efficiency, than previous technologies. This presents malign actors with the ability to sway opinions and actions without the conscious autonomy of users.

🚨NEW ASPI REPORT🚨: ‘Persuasive technologies in China: Implications for the future of national security’ by @dariimpio.bsky.social, myself, Albert Zhang, @fergus.bsky.social, & @bethanyallen.bsky.social. Find it here: www.aspi.org.au/report/persu...

China should advance market-oriented reforms in “competitive” areas of industries, such as energy, railways and telecommunications, a high-level economic official said in an article released in a key Communist Party publication. www.scmp.com/economy/poli...

Investigators of two severed data cables in the Baltic Sea are looking at the movements of a Chinese bulk carrier, the second such probe in recent months amid rising jitters in Europe over potential acts of sabotage. www.ft.com/content/3835...

Xi Jinping has acknowledged the “twists and turns” in Beijing’s relationship with Australia, telling Prime Minister Anthony Albanese that “great care” needs to be taken to maintain the partnership. thenightly.com.au/politics/xi-...

Chinese authorities whisked journalists out of the venue as British PM talked about sensitive human rights and geopolitical issues that the UK is concerned about during his bilateral meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping, including mentioning Jimmy Lai’s case. x.com/bloombergtv/...

Footage from an Italian (I believe) vlogger's trip to Kashgar--posted last week. Has anyone seen taxis promoting the national language anywhere else in China?

The Chinese-language online space outside of the Great Firewall is in a dismal situation, filled with CCP propaganda on the one hand, and anti-CCP disinfo, far-right misinfo on the other. Many native speakers who could have contributed meaningfully (like yours truly) don't participate as a result.

My cartoon for The Age and Sydney Morning Heralf today Australia's choice between 🇨🇳 and 🇺🇸

Over a million new Bluesky accounts were created yesterday. Unsurprisingly, some fakes are popping up here and there, such as this set of nine accounts with identical biographies and repeated banner images.

France knows how to deal with fascists: “The Paris prosecutor on has requested a five-year prison sentence and a five-year ban from public office for far-right leader Marine Le Pen.”

A quick yet considered take from @dariimpio.bsky.social & @nathanattrill.bsky.social on Qin Gang's resignation and Xi's ongoing trust issues with his top ranks. www.aspistrategist.o...

The Monthly Roundup: @dariimpio.bsky.social on the influencers fueling state-backed info ops aspicts.substack.com...

Who else posts about Australia-China relations? go.bsky.app/3buPhnH

Great piece from my colleagues Bethany Allen, @dariimpio.bsky.social, & @nathanattrill.bsky.social in which they examine the Chinese Foreign Ministry app that BRI companies use to report their activities, security risks & other intel back to Beijing. www.aspistrategist.o...

Deservedly great coverage of @fergus.bsky.social, @mattknight.bsky.social & @dariimpio.bsky.social's report on foreign influencers promoting CCP narratives. The CCP cultivates int'l students at uni, provides studios & pays $ incentives. www.smh.com.au/world/asia/t... www.ft.com/content/c6d4...

Friendly foreign influencers win growing following in China https://on.ft.com/47GNKeF

Here's my New York Times op-ed on young Chinese women turning their backs on marriage and childrearing, and the challenge they're posing to China's all-male rulers. Adapted from my book: Leftover Women, 10th Anniversary Edition, which comes out November 30. www.nytimes.com/2023/11/26/o...

FT's coverage of a new report by @mattknight.bsky.social , @dariimpio.bsky.social and moi It launches in a few hours 🚀

Wish I could post my thread about @mattknight.bsky.social , @dariimpio.bsky.social and my new paper about CCP-friendly foreign influencers here but it's too video-heavy. You can catch it on Threads here: www.threads.net/@fergusryan/... Or on Xitter here: twitter.com/fryan/status...

Clearly, we can't trust TikTok to police CCP-led information operations taking place on their app. Greater government oversight is required. The proposed Australian Combatting Misinformation and Disinformation Bill 2023 might be the answer. My latest piece 👇