Tag: Industry

  • The mercenary spyware industry is a menace to global free expression

    The mercenary spyware industry is a menace to global free expression

    Eli Kronenberg is a rising junior and a FIRE summer intern.


    In the last decade, the rise of the mercenary spyware industry has created a potent new weapon for authoritarian regimes bent on silencing dissent. Represented most prominently by the Israeli-based NSO Group and its flagship spyware Pegasus, surveillance malware is often sold to the world’s most repressive governments with little thought given to the nature of its eventual use.

    Regimes like those in Saudi Arabia and Egypt have long track records of suppressing political opposition and independent journalism. When they acquire state-of-the-art surveillance technology, the result is a crackdown on free expression worldwide, carried out using the devices in our very pockets. And because the surveillance is secret and largely undetectable, it impacts anyone with a reason to suspect that the government might not like what they have to say.

    What is mercenary spyware?

    Mercenary spyware is a type of malicious software developed and sold by private companies to governments. Unlike general malware, which spreads widely and somewhat randomly, mercenary spyware is designed to infiltrate specific devices and extract information. 

    The University of Toronto’s Citizen Lab has published numerous reports explaining how spyware like Pegasus is used to hack the personal devices of political opponents in retaliation for criticizing the government. Victims include an Italian journalist critical of the Meloni government, an Egyptian opposition politician with presidential ambitions, dozens of Catalan separatist leaders in Spain, Mexican journalists investigating presidential corruption, and even a Saudi dissident living in exile in Canada.

    “The consequences that we’ve seen in our research are profound,” said Ronald Deibert, the director of the Citizen Lab. “People are afraid to engage over social media, to use the internet, paranoid about their surroundings, about their social relationships. There’s an obvious chilling effect.”

    Here’s how it works: Mercenary spyware companies like NSO Group search technological operating systems for novel security vulnerabilities known as “zero-days,” which can be used to infiltrate products as ubiquitous as Apple iPhones. Then, they develop spyware designed to exploit these zero-days and sell it to governments, ostensibly for law enforcement and intelligence agencies to use for legitimate data-gathering purposes. 

    In practice, governments with long histories of repression often abuse spyware to hack the devices of anti-government activists, journalists, and other members of civil society. And, even for democratic regimes who preach tolerance of dissent, the temptation of spyware capabilities often proves too powerful. 

    All it takes is one click on a phishing message for spyware to be implanted onto a device. From there, governments can read all of the target’s communications, track the device’s location, and secretly turn on the camera and microphone to listen to live conversations — without the victim receiving any indication that their device has been compromised.

    In recent years, spyware has evolved past the point of needing victims to fall for fake links, instead relying on “zero-click” attacks which automatically implant the spyware without requiring the user to do anything. Not even the most meticulous digital hygiene measures can keep those who have drawn the government’s ire safe in this day and age. 

    “I imagine from the perspective of an operative who’s using this type of product, how addictive it must be,” Deibert said. “It’s almost godlike to be able to just drop into somebody’s life, find out everything about them, watch what they’re doing, turn on the microphone, turn on the camera. That is extremely compelling from an intelligence collection point of view, and opens up all sorts of opportunities that otherwise wouldn’t exist for those types of operatives, which explains why the business is so lucrative.”

    While today’s surveillance agents have shiny new tools, their tactics are tried and true. The Nazis famously used IBM punch cards to categorize citizens by ethnicity and other metrics, as well as wiretaps to track Jews, political dissidents, and other “undesirables.” In East Germany, the Stasi used hidden cameras and bugging devices to maintain files on more than one-third of the population. They even stored body odors to identify dissidents using dogs. The Chinese Communist Party uses facial recognition software so advanced they caught a suspect in a crowd of 60,000 people — and that was seven years ago.

    In 2025, it is easier than ever to invade the private lives of those who dare speak up against public officials. The mercenary spyware industry emerged in the early 2010s, coinciding with the rise of social media-enabled revolutions like the Arab Spring. For regimes seeking to quell political opposition but lacking the technological means to effectively control it, mercenary spyware companies provided a saving grace.

    “What this market offers them is the ability to leapfrog ahead in surveillance capacity, in espionage capacity, effectively drawing from some of the world’s most well-trained, sophisticated veterans of intelligence agencies,” Deibert said.

    Reining in the industry

    Fortunately for supporters of free expression, the U.S. has taken concrete steps to crack down on mercenary spyware companies. In 2023, former President Joe Biden issued an executive order directing agencies to cease procuring commercial spyware that poses a threat to human rights or national security. Twenty-two countries signed on to the Biden administration’s “Joint Statement on Efforts to Counter the Proliferation and Misuse of Commercial Spyware,” pledging to implement similar guardrails. 

    The industry’s biggest fish, NSO Group, was added to the Commerce Department’s trade blacklist in 2021, stifling the company’s business prospects on American soil. NSO has also been dealt blows by the courts, most recently being ordered to pay WhatsApp $170 million in damages after its spyware was used to hack over 1,000 accounts on the messaging app.

    “To me, that was all a roadmap of how you go about effectively reining in this wild west that’s causing all sorts of harm,” Deibert said of these efforts.

    The bad news? While some of the world’s biggest spyware developers have been wounded, they won’t give up easily. NSO Group recently hired a new lobbying firm with the mission of reigniting its relationship with Washington lawmakers and reversing the novel regulations, according to an April report by WIRED

    Those efforts have been rebuffed for now. The Trump administration canceled a meeting with NSO officials in May, citing the company being “not forthcoming in its motives for seeking the meeting,” according to an unnamed official in the Washington Post

    Still, spyware companies and their opportunistic governmental clients thrive when operating from the shadows. The U.S. must remain vigilant and further crack down on companies whose spyware is used to spy on civil society, ensuring that political dissidents worldwide can speak without the threat of dictators — or even democratically elected governments — invading their pockets and upending their lives.

    Source link

  • AUCC Partners with Spike Lee for Third Season of Entertainment Industry Fellowship

    AUCC Partners with Spike Lee for Third Season of Entertainment Industry Fellowship

    Spike LeeThe Atlanta University Center Consortium has announced the launch of Season Three of the Spike Fellows at Gersh program, continuing its partnership with Oscar-winning director Spike Lee and The Gersh Agency to create pathways for students from historically Black colleges and universities into entertainment industry careers.

    Three students have been selected for this year’s cohort: Anwar Karim from Morehouse College, Denver Edmonds from Spelman College, and Miya Scaggs from Spelman College. The fellows were chosen based on grade point average, leadership experience, school involvement, creative work, and professional recommendations.

    The eight-week paid fellowship places students in New York or Los Angeles, where they complete rotations across different agency departments while receiving senior-level industry mentoring and participating in curated learning experiences and volunteer service projects.

    “The Spike Fellows Program continues to provide an invaluable experience and mentorship for our students who desire impact in the entertainment industry, both in front and behind the camera,” said Dr. Michael Hodge, Executive Director of the AUCC. “Each year, we see a new set of students immersed in the industry, becoming working professionals and aspiring entertainment leaders.”

    The program has achieved a 100 percent employment rate for participants, with alumni securing positions at major entertainment companies including Gersh, Netflix, Warner Brothers, and Range Media. One former fellow was inspired to pursue graduate studies at the University of Southern California’s film program.

    Beyond professional placement, the program provides comprehensive support for participants. A multi-year partnership with Ralph Lauren furnishes business attire for fellows, while networking opportunities include events like the inaugural Young Black Hollywood Mixer, which earned recognition from Deadline as one of the Best Red Carpet and Party Photos of 2024.

    The initiative targets undergraduate students from Clark Atlanta University, Morehouse College, and Spelman College who demonstrate interest in entertainment industry careers. The program aims to address equity gaps in entertainment by creating direct pathways for talented HBCU students to access industry opportunities.

    The Atlanta University Center Consortium, established in 1929, operates as a 501(c)(3) non-profit representing Clark Atlanta University, Morehouse College, Morehouse School of Medicine, and Spelman College. The organization describes itself as “the world’s oldest and largest association of historically Black colleges and universities.”

    The fellowship represents part of broader industry efforts to increase diversity in entertainment, particularly in behind-the-camera roles where representation has historically lagged. By partnering with established industry figures like Lee and agencies like Gersh, the program provides students with direct access to decision-makers and career-building opportunities typically difficult to access for underrepresented groups.

    Source link

  • WSU continues industry partnership trend with Genetec – Campus Review

    WSU continues industry partnership trend with Genetec – Campus Review

    Western Sydney University (WSU) will send some of its students to intern at a Sydney-based tech company amid continued calls for universities to partner with industry to produce better quality graduates.

    Please login below to view content or subscribe now.

    Membership Login

    Source link

  • What the End of DoED Means for the EdTech Industry

    What the End of DoED Means for the EdTech Industry

    The Fed’s influence over school districts had implications beyond just funding and data. Eliminating The Office of Education Technology (OET) will create significant gaps in educational technology research, validation, and equity assurance. Kris Astle, Education Strategist for SMART Technologies, discusses how industry self-governance, third-party organizations, and increased vendor responsibility might fill these gaps, while emphasizing the importance of research-backed design and implementation to ensure effective technology deployment in classrooms nationwide. Have a listen:

    Key Takeaways

    More News from eSchool News

    In recent years, the rise of AI technologies and the increasing pressures placed on students have made academic dishonesty a growing concern. Students, especially in the middle and high school years, have more opportunities than ever to cheat using AI tools.

    As technology trainers, we support teachers’ and administrators’ technology platform needs, training, and support in our district. We do in-class demos and share as much as we can with them, and we also send out a weekly newsletter.

    Math is a fundamental part of K-12 education, but students often face significant challenges in mastering increasingly challenging math concepts.

    Throughout my education, I have always been frustrated by busy work–the kind of homework that felt like an obligatory exercise rather than a meaningful learning experience.

    During the pandemic, thousands of school systems used emergency relief aid to buy laptops, Chromebooks, and other digital devices for students to use in remote learning.

    Education today looks dramatically different from classrooms of just a decade ago. Interactive technologies and multimedia tools now replace traditional textbooks and lectures, creating more dynamic and engaging learning environments.

    There is significant evidence of the connection between physical movement and learning.  Some colleges and universities encourage using standing or treadmill desks while studying, as well as taking breaks to exercise.

    This story was originally published by Chalkbeat. Sign up for their newsletters at ckbe.at/newsletters. In recent weeks, we’ve seen federal and state governments issue stop-work orders, withdraw contracts, and terminate…

    English/language arts and science teachers were almost twice as likely to say they use AI tools compared to math teachers or elementary teachers of all subjects, according to a February 2025 survey from the RAND Corporation.

    During the seven years I served on the Derry School Board in New Hampshire, the board often came first. During those last two years during COVID, when I was chair, that meant choosing many late-night meetings over dinner with my family.

    Want to share a great resource? Let us know at submissions@eschoolmedia.com.

    Source link

  • Industry mourns loss of Saskia Loer Hansen

    Industry mourns loss of Saskia Loer Hansen

    The industry was left reeling this week after the announcement by RMIT University in Australia of the death of Loer Hansen, a well known senior leader who had enjoyed a successful global career working in Australia and the UK.

    “It is with deep sadness that we share some very difficult news with our community. In a tragic car accident while returning from holiday, Saskia Loer Hansen, deputy vice-chancellor international and engagement and interim general director RMIT Vietnam, lost her life,” said RMIT in a statement.

    “The shock of her sudden passing is hard to fathom, and anyone who had the good fortune to know Saskia will understand that a rare light has gone out.

    “While nothing can make good of the loss of someone with so much more to give, the RMIT community will remember her as an example to emulate.”

    LinkedIn has seen many posts remembering Loer Hansen’s humanity, charisma and professional impact. Prior to RMIT, Loer Hansen worked as PVC international at Aston University in the UK, having moved to the UK from a prior role at the same Australian institution.

    “Saskia was an inspirational leader with the biggest heart,” remembered Wendy Yip, director international development at Aston University.

    “I will always remember how she made time to listen, no matter how busy she was. She will be deeply missed by the teams she led, the people she engaged with, and the global education sector she helped shape.”

    The shock of her sudden passing is hard to fathom, and anyone who had the good fortune to know Saskia will understand that a rare light has gone out
    RMIT University

    Neville Wylie, deputy principal at University of Stirling, wrote: “She had one of the warmest smiles in the business and was an extraordinarily talented communicator.”

    AEMG, an Australian based company working closely with China, also noted Loer Hansen’s dedication. “We will always remember our 2021 Hand in Hand Workshop, when Saskia joined us at 4am from the UK to participate and present,” it said. “Her commitment to global education and her support for AEMG never wavered, no matter the time nor circumstances.”

    “Saskia’s passing is an enormous shock, and the response from friends and colleagues has been overwhelming. She lived an exceptional life; her generous spirit reaching so many. Together, we will remember her,” commented VC of RMIT Alec Cameron on LinkedIn.

    Loer Hansen was born in Denmark and enjoyed a truly global career – engaging and sharing her insight with The PIE over many years. She is fondly remembered.

    Those wishing to attend a memorial service for Saskia Loer Hansen can register their interest with RMIT University here.

    Source link