What is Access Now's stance on the current state of digital rights?

Access Now describes the past year as defined by surveillance, censorship, and shrinking civic space, but notes continued resistance and hope.

How is mercenary spyware evolving and impacting privacy?

Mercenary spyware continues to evolve rapidly, exploiting zero-day vulnerabilities through zero-click attacks to gain total access to devices.

What are the concerns regarding AI in warfare and the EU's digital rights policies?

AI is being militarized for warfare at alarming speeds, while the EU faces criticism for potentially rolling back digital rights protections, including encryption.

Home / Technology / Digital Rights Under Siege: Spyware & AI Warfare Explode

Digital Rights Under Siege: Spyware & AI Warfare Explode

5 Jan

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Summary

Mercenary spyware continues its rapid evolution, targeting zero-day vulnerabilities.
AI-driven systems are rapidly militarized, blurring lines between civilian tech and warfare.
The EU appears to be rolling back digital rights protections, challenging encryption.

Digital Rights Under Siege: Spyware & AI Warfare Explode

The digital rights landscape faced unprecedented challenges over the past year, characterized by escalating surveillance and shrinking civic space. Mercenary spyware, such as Graphite, continued to evolve, exploiting zero-day vulnerabilities to track journalists and activists, often through dangerous zero-click attacks. Despite efforts to create codes of practice and integrate human rights language into export controls, enforcement remains a critical issue.

Simultaneously, AI-driven systems are rapidly becoming integrated into military operations, blurring the lines between civilian technology and warfare. The use of AI for targeting in conflict zones raises profound ethical concerns due to a lack of accountability and accuracy. This militarization of personal data and civilian technologies presents a new frontier in digital conflict.