Debugged Weekly: Jun 17th–23rd
AI, data leaks, and ‘techplomacy’. Check out a few of the top stories this week!
1. Data of almost 200 million voters leaked online
Summary: The leaked information, compiled by the data firm Deep Root Analytics and two other contractors, included names, birth dates, addresses, voter registration details, and social media posts. Chris Vickery, an UpGuard cyber risk analyst, discovered the open database of 198 million voters on June 12th. However, the database, which contained around 1.1 terabytes of unprotected data available to download, was not secured until June 14th.
Why this matters: This is one of the largest leaks of US voter data in history and signals the need for increased data security awareness.
2. Artificial intelligence promises to boost profits across industries, says Accenture
Summary: According to an Accenture report, artificial intelligence could boost corporate profits by 38 percent by 2035. The report noted that AI could boost gross value added across 16 industries in 12 economies by about $14 trillion. In many cases, AI could augment human labor. In the manufacturing industry, this technology could boost returns by improving reliability and eliminating downtime.
Why this matters: The increased use of AI could radically shift the way companies in the US operate and have an unprecedented effect on the job market.
3. Trump seeks tech’s help for government IT overhaul
Summary: President Trump met with the CEOs of major technology companies on Monday, including Amazon’s Jeff Bezos and Apple’s Tim Cook, asking them for their assistance in carrying out a “sweeping transformation” of the federal government’s information technology and cybersecurity. The meeting was the first of the American Technology Council, a group of tech CEOs whose goal is modernizing the government’s technology infrastructure.
Why this matters: During a time when cybersecurity is of the utmost importance, the government is directly connecting with leading tech giants with the aims of bolstering the country’s IT and cyber-infrastructure.
4. Silicon Valley giants outrank many nations, says first ‘techplomat’
Summary: Denmark’s Casper Klynge, the world’s first ‘techplomat’, will be tasked with building direct ties between his country and the likes of Facebook, Apple and Google. According to Ambassador Klynge, top firms in California’s Silicon Valley carry more weight on the global stage than many countries, which makes building diplomatic relations with them increasingly important.
Why this matters: This is the first instance of a nation pursuing diplomatic ties with tech giants and could set a trend for other countries to follow suit.
5. Korean web host hands over 1 billion won to ransomware crooks
Summary: The Korean web hosting firm, Internet Nayana, has agreed to pay hackers 1.3 billion Korean Republic Won ($1.14 million) worth of bitcoins following a ransomware attack. According to Security firm Trend Micro, the hackers used Erebus ransomware, and hit 153 out of Nayana’s 300 servers, taking out thousands of websites with them.
Why this matters: The attack on Nayana is one of the most recent and prominent examples of ransomware working successfully and could encourage future attacks.
