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Fergus Ryan @fergus.bsky.social · Mar 4

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... )

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Edward Wong @ewong.bsky.social · Jan 15

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...

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Fergus Ryan @fergus.bsky.social · Jan 15

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...

Yet, any ban can’t just be about TikTok because inevitably it will be succeeded by other apps based under authoritarian regimes. A better approach would be legislation to tackle all state-controlled apps now and into the future.

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Nathan Attrill @nathanattrill.bsky.social · Jan 14

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...

‘TikTok refugees’ flock to another (heavily censored) Chinese app

The social media app Xiaohongshu, literally “Little Red Book” but often called “RedNote,” has seen a sudden influx in American users as a TikTok ban looms.

www.washingtonpost.com

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NPR @npr.org · Jan 13

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.

Italy releases Iranian man wanted by U.S. over drone attack that killed 3 soldiers

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.

www.npr.org

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Casey Newton @caseynewton.bsky.social · Jan 10

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...

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Teen Vogue @teenvogue.com · Jan 8

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. ⤵️

In California, Incarcerated Teenagers Help Fight Wildfires

"You’re put in danger every time you’re on the fire line.”

www.teenvogue.com

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Fergus Ryan @fergus.bsky.social · Jan 9

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

TikToker’s Trip to China: The Influencer or the Influenced? – chinaobservers

This article is part of a series of articles authored by young, aspiring China scholars under the Future CHOICE initiative . China has been cultivating a

chinaobservers.eu

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Daria Impiombato @dariimpio.bsky.social · Dec 20

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...

The Monthly Roundup: 2024 in Cyber & Tech

ASPI Cyber, Technology & Security analysts write on the issues that have defined 2024 in the field – and what 2025 might have in store.

aspicts.substack.com

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il Post @ilpost.it · Dec 4

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”

L'inchiesta di BBC sui concentrati di pomodoro venduti come “italiani” e prodotti col lavoro forzato in Cina - Il Post

Le accuse riguardano soprattutto un'azienda italiana e i suoi prodotti distribuiti all'estero

ilpost.link

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Australian Strategic Policy Institute @aspi-org.bsky.social · Dec 3

🎙️ 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

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Australian Strategic Policy Institute @aspi-org.bsky.social · Dec 4

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

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Australian Strategic Policy Institute @aspi-org.bsky.social · Dec 5

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

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Nathan Attrill @nathanattrill.bsky.social · Dec 4

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...

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Nathan Attrill @nathanattrill.bsky.social · Nov 28

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

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Nathan Attrill @nathanattrill.bsky.social · Nov 28

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...

Could China's persuasive technologies soon pull the strings in the West? - ABC listen

In the brave new world of generative artificial intelligence, wearable devices and brain-computer interfaces, our hearts and minds are up for grabs.

www.abc.net.au

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Bethany Allen 貝書穎 @bethanyallen.bsky.social · Nov 26

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!

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Bethany Allen 貝書穎 @bethanyallen.bsky.social · Nov 26

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.

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Bethany Allen 貝書穎 @bethanyallen.bsky.social · Nov 26

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.

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Bethany Allen 貝書穎 @bethanyallen.bsky.social · Nov 26

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.

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Bethany Allen 貝書穎 @bethanyallen.bsky.social · Nov 26

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.

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Bethany Allen 貝書穎 @bethanyallen.bsky.social · Nov 26

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...

Persuasive technologies in China: implications for the future of national security

Persuasive technologies in China: Implications for the future of national security

www.aspi.org.au

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Bethany Allen 貝書穎 @bethanyallen.bsky.social · Nov 26

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:

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Daria Impiombato @dariimpio.bsky.social · Nov 26

Featuring super cool cover art by @badiucao.bsky.social 🔥

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Daria Impiombato @dariimpio.bsky.social · Nov 26

🆕 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?

Nathan Attrill @nathanattrill.bsky.social · Nov 26

🚨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...

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