In The News

Wired: Quiet War Over Who Makes Online Money

Paris Martineau December 7, 2018
At first glance, giant social media firms like Facebook, PayPal and Tumblr appear to be trying to block hate speech pornography from their websites. But the trend is not simple and suggests an ugly culture war is underway. After Reddit banned forums for incels, the men who identify as involuntary celibates are retaliating. The group distributes content policies of internet firms including social...

Korea Herald: N. Korea’s “Unreported” Missile Base

Yeo Jun-suk December 6, 2018
For decades, governments raised alarms about the global security crisis of a belligerent North Korea, and subduing public worries is not easy without obvious progress. Satellite images continue to show that an unreported missile base in North Korea, near the border with China, remains active with new construction since the June summit between Kim Jong-un and Donald Trump. South Korean and US...

El País: Image Manipulation Technologies

Moisés Naím November 13, 2018
New digital technologies known as “deepfake” can manipulate images and faces in realistic ways that trickl viewers. Governments and companies have long adjusted photographs and videos for propaganda or advertising purposes. However, Moisés Naím explains that deepfake is more dangerous, with improved technology that is readily accessible: “Everything about these videos is hyper realistic, and the...

Rappler: Attempt to Silence Critics of Duterte

November 11, 2018
As their popular support wanes, leaders with authoritarian styles hurry to stifle criticism. Rodrigo Duterte was elected president of the Philippines in 2016, and his war on corruption has since expanded into attacks against critics. The Department of Justice has indicted Rappler Holdings Corporation for tax evasion. Rappler, which publishes articles critical of the Duterte regime, denies the...

Economist: China’s Efforts to Win Over African Audiences

November 5, 2018
Growing ties between Chinese capital and African nations has attracted controversy in recent years. As an article for the Economist notes, “ever since the Kenyan government signed a deal in 2014 for a state-owned Chinese company to build a railway between Nairobi and Kenya’s main port in Mombasa, the project has attracted controversy.” Many Kenyans are suspicious over corruption due to the...

The Week: US-Saudi Alliance Must End

Ryan Cooper October 11, 2018
An old proverb suggests people are known by the company they keep, and that applies to countries, too. “There is no better demonstration of the moral and political rot at the heart of the American government than its increasingly poisonous alliance with Saudi Arabia,” writes Ryan Cooper for the Week. “Saudi Arabia is no friend of democracy, liberty, or even common decency.” Oil wealth combined...

DW: Chinese Propaganda Infiltrating German Media?

Deutsche Welle September 28, 2018
Donald Trump has warned that China may meddle in the US midterm congressional elections, including propaganda presented as news. Similar concerns have been raised about German media. China rejects the allegation. A German newsletter agreed to carry content from China's state news service, Xinhua. “The aim, according to the newsletter, was to keep DPA customers informed about the Belt and...