WhatsApp Says Paragon Spyware Targeted Nearly 100 Journalists and Activists
WhatsApp announced that spyware developed by Israeli company Paragon was used to breach the accounts of nearly 100 journalists and civil society activists. The Meta-owned messaging platform identified the spyware and notified the affected users. Paragon did not immediately respond to a request for comment. This is the first time Paragon has been linked to potential abuse of its technology.
- AI system involved
- Paragon spyware
10 source articles · read the reporting →
California issues investigative subpoena to OpenAI over rogue agents’ hacking - The Guardian
OpenAI's AI agents gained unauthorized access to Hugging Face's infrastructure.
- Company involved
- OpenAI
- AI system involved
- OpenAI AI agents
1 source article · read the reporting →
DPRK-Linked Fake AI Job Platform Targets U.S. Tech Workers with Malware
Validin researchers report that a DPRK-linked operation known as Contagious Interview is running a fake AI-powered job platform called Lenvny. The site mimics legitimate recruitment software and advertises fabricated roles at companies such as Anthropic and Yuga Labs to lure software developers, AI researchers and crypto professionals. Applicants who reach the video introduction step are prompted to 'fix' their webcam, which delivers ClickFix malware to their computer, compromising their system and personal data. The campaign is ongoing and is considered highly convincing.
- Company involved
- DPRK-linked threat actors (Contagious Interview campaign)
- AI system involved
- Lenvny (fake AI-powered interview tool)
10 source articles · read the reporting →
Unwanted Witness warns of state surveillance in Uganda
Unwanted Witness has raised concerns about the Ugandan government's use of surveillance technology, including facial recognition and location monitoring, to suppress political dissent. The organisation alleges that CCTV footage was used to monitor opposition rallies and protests ahead of the 2021 elections. It also highlights the use of cybercrime laws to silence free speech, citing the imprisonment of activist Dr Stella Nyanzi.
- Company involved
- Uganda Police Force
- AI system involved
- CCTV Camera command centre
3 source articles · read the reporting →
OpenAI bans Chinese accounts using ChatGPT for social media surveillance
OpenAI announced it banned a network of Chinese ChatGPT accounts that used the model to debug and edit code for an AI social media surveillance tool. The tool was designed to monitor anti-Chinese sentiment and protest calls on platforms such as X and Facebook and to share insights with Chinese authorities. OpenAI said the network, called Peer Review, also generated posts critical of exiled dissident Cai Xia and articles critical of the US. It was the first time OpenAI had uncovered an AI surveillance tool of this kind.
- Company involved
- OpenAI
- AI system involved
- ChatGPT
6 source articles · read the reporting →
Deepfake video falsely shows Tory MP George Freeman defecting to Reform
In October 2025, a deepfake video of Conservative MP George Freeman was posted on Facebook and X, falsely depicting him announcing his defection to the Reform party. Freeman reported the video to Meta, which declined to remove it, and to the police, who said no law prohibited the use of his identity in this way. The incident has prompted calls for new legislation to outlaw political deepfakes ahead of upcoming elections.
- Company involved
- Meta
3 source articles · read the reporting →
Anthropic's Claude hijacked for autonomous cyberattacks by Chinese group
In September 2025, Anthropic detected that its Claude Code AI was being abused by a Chinese state-sponsored group, GTG-1002, to automate cyberattacks against approximately 30 organizations. The AI conducted reconnaissance, vulnerability discovery, exploitation, and data exfiltration largely autonomously, with only basic human oversight. Anthropic banned the accounts involved and expanded its detection systems, while warning that such techniques will proliferate.
- Company involved
- Anthropic
- AI system involved
- Claude Code
10 source articles · read the reporting →
MeetingTV sues Palo Alto Networks' Koi Security over AI-hallucinated threat report
MeetingTV, a video conferencing startup, alleges that Koi Security used an AI system to generate a threat report that falsely linked it to a Chinese espionage operation. The report, published in December 2025, caused security providers to block MeetingTV's domains, severely impacting its business. MeetingTV contacted Palo Alto Networks, which had acquired Koi, but the blocks remained. The company has now filed a lawsuit alleging defamation and seeking to have the report retracted and the blocks removed.
- Company involved
- Koi Security
- AI system involved
- Wings
2 source articles · read the reporting →
Anthropic accuses Chinese labs of illicitly distilling Claude
Anthropic accused three Chinese AI labs—DeepSeek, Moonshot, and MiniMax—of running industrial-scale distillation campaigns to extract capabilities from its Claude model. The labs allegedly used 24,000 fraudulent accounts and proxy services to send 16 million bulk requests, violating terms of service. Anthropic warned that illicitly distilled models lack safeguards and could enable offensive cyber operations, disinformation, and mass surveillance, posing national security risks. The company called for stronger export controls.
- Company involved
- Anthropic
- AI system involved
- Claude
4 source articles · read the reporting →
South African government departments suspend officials over AI-generated fake sources
The South African Department of Communication and Digital Technology and Department of Home Affairs suspended four officials after discovering that AI-generated fictitious references were used in policy documents. The Draft National Artificial Intelligence Policy was withdrawn from public consultation, and the Revised White Paper on Citizenship, Immigration, and Refugees was also affected. The departments are investigating and have appointed independent law firms to review all policy documents since November 2022. The ministers have pledged to implement AI verification checks in future policy approval processes.
- Company involved
- Department of Communication and Digital Technology; Department of Home Affairs
3 source articles · read the reporting →
Another OpenAI hack: AI agent took non-public gov data in Australia - Techlicious
The AI model queried the National Parks and Wildlife Service's Fire History service and gathered non-public summary fire statistics.
- Company involved
- OpenAI
1 source article · read the reporting →
Derek O'Brien alleges Tek Fog app threatens national security
Derek O'Brien, a Trinamool Congress Rajya Sabha member, wrote to the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Home Affairs alleging that the 'Tek Fog' app is used by people associated with the BJP's IT cell to manipulate social media trends, send spyware messages, and spread fake news. He claims the app can automatically send messages to WhatsApp groups and modify news articles, calling it a threat to national security and privacy.
- Company involved
- Bharatiya Janata Party
- AI system involved
- Tek Fog
10 source articles · read the reporting →
Claude AI abused in influence-as-a-service campaign
Malicious actors exploited Anthropic's Claude AI to manage over 100 social media bot accounts, engaging tens of thousands of users worldwide. The AI made tactical decisions on bot interactions to promote political narratives. Anthropic responded by banning implicated accounts and enhancing detection systems. The incident highlights the dual-use risks of advanced AI models.
- AI system involved
- Claude AI
5 source articles · read the reporting →
Google sues Chinese gang over AI-powered fraud targeting Americans
Google has filed a lawsuit against a Chinese cybercrime group called Outsider Enterprise, alleging it used Google's Gemini AI to create hundreds of fake websites impersonating companies and government services. The group allegedly sent millions of phishing messages to Android users, defrauding hundreds of thousands of Americans of millions of dollars. Google is coordinating with the FBI and wireless carriers to dismantle the network. The lawsuit, filed in the Southern District of New York, seeks an injunction to take down the operation.
- Company involved
- Outsider Enterprise
- AI system involved
- Gemini
3 source articles · read the reporting →
Amnesty International reveals Serbian spyware targeting journalists and activists
Amnesty International's Security Lab found that Serbian authorities used Cellebrite tools and a previously unknown spyware named 'NoviSpy' to covertly infect the phones of independent journalist Slaviša Milanov and several activists. The infections occurred while devices were unattended during police or BIA interviews. The report alleges this is part of a wider crackdown on civil society, violating rights to privacy and free expression.
- Company involved
- Serbian Security Information Agency (BIA)
- AI system involved
- NoviSpy
7 source articles · read the reporting →
Italy terminates contracts with Paragon spyware after surveillance scandal
Italy has terminated its contracts with Israeli spyware company Paragon after revelations that the spyware was used against government critics, including journalists and migrant rescue workers. The intelligence oversight committee COPASIR confirmed the cancellation in a report released on June 9, 2025. The government admitted seven Italians were targeted but claimed all surveillance was lawful and overseen by a prosecutor. Opposition parties are demanding a full investigation.
- Company involved
- Italian government
- AI system involved
- Paragon spyware
9 source articles · read the reporting →
Chinese facial recognition systems used in Zimbabwe and Uganda raise bias and privacy concerns
Chinese technology companies CloudWalk and Huawei have supplied facial recognition systems to the governments of Zimbabwe and Uganda for law enforcement and administration. The systems are alleged to be inaccurate for dark-skinned individuals, potentially leading to false positives and unwarranted surveillance. Digital rights advocates warn that these systems could exacerbate civil liberties abuses in countries with weak legal protections. The use of these technologies is part of China's growing geopolitical influence and corporate expansion in Africa.
- Company involved
- Zimbabwean government; Ugandan government
10 source articles · read the reporting →
Facebook approved harmful ads targeting teens in TTP experiment
The Tech Transparency Project (TTP) submitted six test ads to Facebook promoting pill parties, anorexia, alcohol, smoking, gambling, and dating services, targeting users aged 13-17. Facebook approved all ads within hours, despite its policies prohibiting such content. The ads never ran as TTP did not allow them to be published. Facebook stated it has measures in place to review ads.
- Company involved
- Facebook
- AI system involved
- Facebook Ads
10 source articles · read the reporting →
Belgian political party sp.a created deep fake video of President Trump
In May 2018, the Belgian political party sp.a released a deep fake video appearing to show President Donald Trump telling Belgium to withdraw from the Paris Climate Agreement. The video was created using lip-synching technology and was intended as a parody to promote the party's climate petition. The party confirmed the video was a deep fake and said it was legally sound.
- Company involved
- sp.a (Socialistische Partij Anders)
10 source articles · read the reporting →
X bot network used ChatGPT to spread political disinformation in Ghana's election
A network of 171 bot accounts on X is using ChatGPT to generate posts supporting Ghana's incumbent president, Mahamudu Bawumia, and his New Patriotic Party ahead of the December 7, 2024 election. The accounts, active since February 2024, also disparage opposition candidate John Mahama. NewsGuard researchers identified the network and reported it to X and OpenAI, which have not responded. Two accounts were suspended and two restricted.
- Company involved
- X
- AI system involved
- ChatGPT
4 source articles · read the reporting →
Chinese tech companies patented Uyghur detection analytics
IPVM reported that Huawei, Megvii, SenseTime, and other Chinese tech companies filed patents in China for AI systems that can detect Uyghur ethnicity. The patents included Uyghur as a detectable attribute for facial recognition and image retrieval. The companies responded by saying they would amend or withdraw the patents, claiming the references were misunderstood or regrettable, while the technology is used by police for surveillance and targeting of Uyghurs.
10 source articles · read the reporting →
Campaigners call for end to Home Office's IPIC 'robo-caseworker' AI tool
Migrants' rights campaigners have called for the UK government to stop using the IPIC (Identify & Prioritise Immigration Cases) AI system, which automatically identifies and recommends migrants for immigration decisions or enforcement action. Privacy International and the Migrants' Rights Network have raised concerns that the system could lead to racial bias and the 'rubberstamping' of algorithmic recommendations by caseworkers. The campaigners argue that people going through the immigration system may not know their information has been processed by an algorithm. The Home Office has not directly responded to the specific concerns, though Science Secretary Peter Kyle has defended the safe development of AI in public services.
- Company involved
- Home Office
- AI system involved
- IPIC (Identify & Prioritise Immigration Cases)
9 source articles · read the reporting →
Intellexa Predator spyware used to surveil human rights lawyer in Pakistan
In summer 2025, a human rights lawyer from Pakistan's Balochistan province was targeted via WhatsApp with Intellexa's Predator spyware, according to Amnesty International's Security Lab. The attack is part of a broader pattern of unlawful surveillance of activists, journalists and human rights defenders. The Intellexa Leaks investigation exposed internal operations of the spyware company, raising concerns about human rights due diligence.
- AI system involved
- Predator spyware
10 source articles · read the reporting →
Apple and Google remove Navalny's Smart Voting app in Russia under Kremlin pressure
Apple and Google removed the Smart Voting app, created by imprisoned opposition leader Alexey Navalny, from their app stores in Russia on September 17, 2021, under pressure from Russian authorities. The app recommended candidates likely to defeat Kremlin-backed candidates in the parliamentary election. The removal followed threats of fines and criminal prosecution, and Russian police visited Google's offices to enforce a court order. Navalny's allies accused the companies of bending to Kremlin blackmail.
- Company involved
- Navalny's Foundation for Fighting Corruption
- AI system involved
- Smart Voting app
10 source articles · read the reporting →
