Kenton Thibaut
@kentonthibaut.bsky.social
Senior Resident China Fellow at AtlanticCouncil's DFRLab. PhD candidate at Georgetown focusing on comparative China-U.S.-EU data policy. Methodologically promiscuous. 🏳️🌈
Reposted by Kenton Thibaut
A Tactical Framework to Counter and Prevent Transnational Repression w/ @atlanticcouncil.bsky.social by me & @marcuskolga.bsky.social @kentonthibaut.bsky.social nthibaut.bsky.social @nosumacero.bsky.social y.social @lisandranovo.bsky.social
Threads⚡️x 7
www.atlanticcouncil.org/in-depth-res...
Threads⚡️x 7
www.atlanticcouncil.org/in-depth-res...
October 30, 2025 at 3:30 PM
A Tactical Framework to Counter and Prevent Transnational Repression w/ @atlanticcouncil.bsky.social by me & @marcuskolga.bsky.social @kentonthibaut.bsky.social nthibaut.bsky.social @nosumacero.bsky.social y.social @lisandranovo.bsky.social
Threads⚡️x 7
www.atlanticcouncil.org/in-depth-res...
Threads⚡️x 7
www.atlanticcouncil.org/in-depth-res...
China’s state-driven connectivity financing is brittle. We should lean into blended finance + specialized intermediaries-they unlock private capital, manage risk & build sustainable infrastructure on democratic terms. Watch our @atlanticcouncil.bsky.social event 👇
www.youtube.com/live/Mhi0tOa...
www.youtube.com/live/Mhi0tOa...
Creative investment approaches to compete with China in the Global South
YouTube video by AtlanticCouncil
www.youtube.com
October 16, 2025 at 7:46 PM
China’s state-driven connectivity financing is brittle. We should lean into blended finance + specialized intermediaries-they unlock private capital, manage risk & build sustainable infrastructure on democratic terms. Watch our @atlanticcouncil.bsky.social event 👇
www.youtube.com/live/Mhi0tOa...
www.youtube.com/live/Mhi0tOa...
Reposted by Kenton Thibaut
TikTok v RedNote? As TikTok's fate is once again at stake in the U.S., @kentonthibaut.bsky.social, Senior China Fellow at the Atlantic Council's Data Forensic Research Lab, explains how rival app RedNote stacks up in terms of personal security.
April 2, 2025 at 6:58 PM
TikTok v RedNote? As TikTok's fate is once again at stake in the U.S., @kentonthibaut.bsky.social, Senior China Fellow at the Atlantic Council's Data Forensic Research Lab, explains how rival app RedNote stacks up in terms of personal security.
In this @dfrlab.bsky.social piece, Dylan Plung of NBR & I highlight the case of China IO targeting Japan to argue open societies need comprehensive digital strategies integrating domestic modernization, cybersecurity, & FIMI resilience. We provide specific recs for how to do it: shorturl.at/worXz
Japan’s technology paradox: the challenge of Chinese disinformation
Japan serves as an important case study to illustrate an unappreciated aspect of fostering information resilience against malign influence
dfrlab.org
March 25, 2025 at 4:39 PM
In this @dfrlab.bsky.social piece, Dylan Plung of NBR & I highlight the case of China IO targeting Japan to argue open societies need comprehensive digital strategies integrating domestic modernization, cybersecurity, & FIMI resilience. We provide specific recs for how to do it: shorturl.at/worXz
Reposted by Kenton Thibaut
The popular DNA test kit company 23andMe announced yesterday that it has filed for bankruptcy and is looking for a buyer. And while the company has promised to continue protecting customer data amidst a possible sale, Wirecutter’s tech experts think you should delete your data now.
23andMe Just Filed for Bankruptcy. You Should Delete Your Data Now.
23andMe is up for sale—which means your data is, too.
nyti.ms
March 25, 2025 at 1:03 AM
The popular DNA test kit company 23andMe announced yesterday that it has filed for bankruptcy and is looking for a buyer. And while the company has promised to continue protecting customer data amidst a possible sale, Wirecutter’s tech experts think you should delete your data now.
Development can be profitable AND strategic. We argue that investing in connectivity offers MASSIVE financial opportunities for the US, while countering China's growing digital footprint. We outline specific recs to make the Development Finance Corporation fit for this purpose: shorturl.at/IKxV3
Connecting the other half of humanity is the deal of the century
China is investing billions in global internet infrastructure through its Digital Silk Road Initiative, advancing its interests over the US.
dfrlab.org
March 19, 2025 at 7:59 PM
Development can be profitable AND strategic. We argue that investing in connectivity offers MASSIVE financial opportunities for the US, while countering China's growing digital footprint. We outline specific recs to make the Development Finance Corporation fit for this purpose: shorturl.at/IKxV3
Reposted by Kenton Thibaut
President Donald Trump on Friday signed an executive order aimed at reducing the scope of eight federal agencies as part of his campaign to downsize the US government.
Trump Signs Order Seeking to Reduce More Federal Agencies
President Donald Trump on Friday signed an executive order aimed at reducing the scope of eight federal agencies as part of his campaign to downsize the US government.
www.bloomberg.com
March 15, 2025 at 4:19 AM
President Donald Trump on Friday signed an executive order aimed at reducing the scope of eight federal agencies as part of his campaign to downsize the US government.
Reposted by Kenton Thibaut
5 former Secretaries of Defense call on Congress to exercise oversight responsibility on Trump-Hegseth firing of senior military leaders:
The "dismissals raise troubling questions about the administration’s desire to politicize the military and to remove legal constraints on the President’s power."
The "dismissals raise troubling questions about the administration’s desire to politicize the military and to remove legal constraints on the President’s power."
February 27, 2025 at 11:17 PM
5 former Secretaries of Defense call on Congress to exercise oversight responsibility on Trump-Hegseth firing of senior military leaders:
The "dismissals raise troubling questions about the administration’s desire to politicize the military and to remove legal constraints on the President’s power."
The "dismissals raise troubling questions about the administration’s desire to politicize the military and to remove legal constraints on the President’s power."
Americans flocked to Xiaohongshu (RedNote) in January due to the TikTok ban. But what's the difference between Xiaohongshu, TikTok, & Douyin? What narratives proliferate on it? What are tradeoffs between propaganda wins & information control for the CCP?
Ryan DeVries & I explain: shorturl.at/UjRJE
Ryan DeVries & I explain: shorturl.at/UjRJE
What the TikTok ban and Xiaohongshu's brief popularity reveal about US-China relations and their tech sectors
Influx of US users to RedNote amid TikTok ban limbo presents propaganda opportunities and censorship challenges for China
shorturl.at
February 26, 2025 at 6:24 PM
Americans flocked to Xiaohongshu (RedNote) in January due to the TikTok ban. But what's the difference between Xiaohongshu, TikTok, & Douyin? What narratives proliferate on it? What are tradeoffs between propaganda wins & information control for the CCP?
Ryan DeVries & I explain: shorturl.at/UjRJE
Ryan DeVries & I explain: shorturl.at/UjRJE
Reposted by Kenton Thibaut
OMB director Russ Vought has officially begun carrying out his section of Project 2025.
Technical thread to follow, but it’s really important - this is a major path through which the Trump administration will illegally impound funding, refusing to carry out some of our spending laws.
Technical thread to follow, but it’s really important - this is a major path through which the Trump administration will illegally impound funding, refusing to carry out some of our spending laws.
February 21, 2025 at 8:20 PM
OMB director Russ Vought has officially begun carrying out his section of Project 2025.
Technical thread to follow, but it’s really important - this is a major path through which the Trump administration will illegally impound funding, refusing to carry out some of our spending laws.
Technical thread to follow, but it’s really important - this is a major path through which the Trump administration will illegally impound funding, refusing to carry out some of our spending laws.
Reposted by Kenton Thibaut
February 23, 2025 at 8:02 PM
Reposted by Kenton Thibaut
In the world of privacy coverage, there has always been a central question of who is a greater threat to it: the government or corporate America.
Now with DOGE, the two are merged into one: www.nytimes.com/2025/02/19/u...
Now with DOGE, the two are merged into one: www.nytimes.com/2025/02/19/u...
Struggle Over Americans’ Personal Data Plays Out Across the Government (Gift Article)
Employees from Elon Musk’s so-called Department of Government Efficiency are gaining access to vast amounts of information held by federal agencies, even as lawsuits try to stop them.
www.nytimes.com
February 19, 2025 at 12:55 PM
In the world of privacy coverage, there has always been a central question of who is a greater threat to it: the government or corporate America.
Now with DOGE, the two are merged into one: www.nytimes.com/2025/02/19/u...
Now with DOGE, the two are merged into one: www.nytimes.com/2025/02/19/u...
Reposted by Kenton Thibaut
For my 1st piece since leaving government, I partnered w/ @richardmnephew.bsky.social on a piece for @warontherocks.bsky.social. We take stock of where we are on Iran, and where we should go, including steps to prevent a nuke & reconstitution of the proxy network.
warontherocks.com/2025/02/trum...
warontherocks.com/2025/02/trum...
Trump Has a Rare and Short Window to Solve the Iran Problem — Here’s How - War on the Rocks
Donald Trump is likely the last president that will get a chance to stop Iran from building a nuclear arsenal. Will he succeed? Tehran has been on the
warontherocks.com
February 4, 2025 at 12:49 PM
For my 1st piece since leaving government, I partnered w/ @richardmnephew.bsky.social on a piece for @warontherocks.bsky.social. We take stock of where we are on Iran, and where we should go, including steps to prevent a nuke & reconstitution of the proxy network.
warontherocks.com/2025/02/trum...
warontherocks.com/2025/02/trum...
Reposted by Kenton Thibaut
I missed this yesterday, but new Attorney General Pam Bondi used her first day on the job to disband the FBI's Foreign Influence Task Force, which has been a key part of government efforts to stop adversaries from meddling in U.S. democracy: https://bit.ly/4jK0RC5
February 6, 2025 at 1:40 PM
I missed this yesterday, but new Attorney General Pam Bondi used her first day on the job to disband the FBI's Foreign Influence Task Force, which has been a key part of government efforts to stop adversaries from meddling in U.S. democracy: https://bit.ly/4jK0RC5
Reposted by Kenton Thibaut
Okay, you're ready to step into the fray. This week is focused on two things: 1) getting federal level reps to push back on Elon Musk's hostile takeover of our federal bureaucracy and federal payments system (bonus points for also saying stand up to these stupid and destructive tariffs) and
A clear explanation of how the Trump/Musk power grab will do untold harm to us all. This is a 5 alarm fire. No president, regardless of party, should have such direct control over the disbursement of federal funds. Now, a thread on what to do:
I want to spell out the basic reason it’s so dangerous for Elon to have control of the U.S. payments system. It may seem like a technical matter, but the dynamics are simple. 1/x
February 3, 2025 at 1:02 PM
Okay, you're ready to step into the fray. This week is focused on two things: 1) getting federal level reps to push back on Elon Musk's hostile takeover of our federal bureaucracy and federal payments system (bonus points for also saying stand up to these stupid and destructive tariffs) and
It was great to work with @bellingcat.com on this piece. We discussed how Chinese companies obfuscate shady goings-on via networks of LLCs registered abroad. I also discussed data gathering practices of some companies, which are used to build datasets of valuable targets for Chinese intel agencies.
The Atlantic Council’s Digital Forensic Research Lab's @kentonthibaut.bsky.social discusses privacy and security concerns of apps linked to China for our @bellingcat.com piece about the tech companies promoted by the MrDeepFakes porn website. www.bellingcat.com/news/uk-and-...
Faking It: Deepfake Porn Site’s Link to Tech Companies
An analysis of MrDeepFakes, the most notorious deepfake porn website, reveals clues about two apps that it has prominently advertised.
www.bellingcat.com
January 28, 2025 at 9:38 PM
It was great to work with @bellingcat.com on this piece. We discussed how Chinese companies obfuscate shady goings-on via networks of LLCs registered abroad. I also discussed data gathering practices of some companies, which are used to build datasets of valuable targets for Chinese intel agencies.
Reposted by Kenton Thibaut
This week, Chinese AI startup DeepSeek’s R1 rattled the US after it was found to match OpenAI’s o1 model across a number of core tasks.
DFRLab’s @kentonthibaut.bsky.social examines what DeepSeek’s breakthrough says and doesn’t say about the ‘AI race’ with China:
DFRLab’s @kentonthibaut.bsky.social examines what DeepSeek’s breakthrough says and doesn’t say about the ‘AI race’ with China:
What DeepSeek’s breakthrough says (and doesn’t say) about the ‘AI race’ with China
DeepSeek’s achievement has not exactly undermined the United States’ export control strategy, but it does bring up important questions about the broader US strategy on AI.
www.atlanticcouncil.org
January 28, 2025 at 7:13 PM
This week, Chinese AI startup DeepSeek’s R1 rattled the US after it was found to match OpenAI’s o1 model across a number of core tasks.
DFRLab’s @kentonthibaut.bsky.social examines what DeepSeek’s breakthrough says and doesn’t say about the ‘AI race’ with China:
DFRLab’s @kentonthibaut.bsky.social examines what DeepSeek’s breakthrough says and doesn’t say about the ‘AI race’ with China:
In this piece for @lawfare.bsky.social, I argue that focusing tech policy solely on Chinese security risks overlooks systemic flaws in the U.S. tech ecosystem that could end up undermining national security in the long run. Many thanks to the colleagues who provided great feedback for the piece!
As U.S. policymakers increasingly frame tech regulation in terms of a rivalry with China, @kentonthibaut.bsky.social writes that, absent a more comprehensive strategy, these measures will fail to address systemic national security issues.
The Need for Tech Regulation Beyond U.S.-China Rivalry
Focusing tech policy solely on Chinese security risks overlooks systemic flaws in the U.S. tech ecosystem—demanding a different approach.
www.lawfaremedia.org
January 24, 2025 at 6:50 PM
In this piece for @lawfare.bsky.social, I argue that focusing tech policy solely on Chinese security risks overlooks systemic flaws in the U.S. tech ecosystem that could end up undermining national security in the long run. Many thanks to the colleagues who provided great feedback for the piece!
As we wait to see the Trump admin's plans re: AI & national security, we asked industry experts what nat sec principles & policy choices in Biden's AI NSM should be carried forward, what should change, & where there is natural continuity between Trump & Biden's approaches👇
dfrlab.org/2025/01/17/a...
dfrlab.org/2025/01/17/a...
National Security Memorandum (NSM) on Artificial Intelligence: Democracy + Tech Initiative Markup
On October 24, 2024, the Biden Administration released its National Security Memorandum (NSM) on Artificial Intelligence. Read along with AC Tech Programs staff, fellows, and industry experts for comm...
dfrlab.org
January 21, 2025 at 9:04 PM
As we wait to see the Trump admin's plans re: AI & national security, we asked industry experts what nat sec principles & policy choices in Biden's AI NSM should be carried forward, what should change, & where there is natural continuity between Trump & Biden's approaches👇
dfrlab.org/2025/01/17/a...
dfrlab.org/2025/01/17/a...
As I say in this Foreign Policy piece, a big problem with the TikTok conversation is it frames the risk to Americans’ data security as a problem that can be solved by a ban. But we still end up leaving a larger & arguably more consequential swath of US data unprotected & available for purchase.
As 170 million Americans await news on TikTok's survival beyond Sunday, I took a stab at some key questions (with the help of @anupamchander.bsky.social, @kentonthibaut.bsky.social and prospective TikTok buyer Frank McCourt) for @foreignpolicy.com
foreignpolicy.com/2025/01/16/t...
foreignpolicy.com/2025/01/16/t...
TikTok Awaits Its Fate
What to know about the popular social media app’s potential U.S. ban.
foreignpolicy.com
January 16, 2025 at 7:20 PM
As I say in this Foreign Policy piece, a big problem with the TikTok conversation is it frames the risk to Americans’ data security as a problem that can be solved by a ban. But we still end up leaving a larger & arguably more consequential swath of US data unprotected & available for purchase.
The TikTok "ban" is a great TP for the CCP to undermine U.S. leadership on the open internet, especially as Xiaohongshu trends to #1 in the app store, and its CEO welcomes American "TikTok refugees." 🤦♀️ CCP State Media is positively GLEEFUL. We need a better approach. dfrlab.org/2024/02/14/t...
TikTok: Hate the Game, Not the Player
How strategic and regulatory confusion around TikTok prevent an effective national security response
dfrlab.org
January 13, 2025 at 7:47 PM
The TikTok "ban" is a great TP for the CCP to undermine U.S. leadership on the open internet, especially as Xiaohongshu trends to #1 in the app store, and its CEO welcomes American "TikTok refugees." 🤦♀️ CCP State Media is positively GLEEFUL. We need a better approach. dfrlab.org/2024/02/14/t...
"By retrenching on its content policies, Meta is reneging on previous statements that it wanted to create a safe and open space for people on its platforms...the pullback...will inevitably be felt offline." @markscott.bsky.social on Meta's decision to axe fact-checking: tinyurl.com/3v9vrkc8
Analysis: Meta's fact-checking pullback will have global consequences
The social media company's widespread overhaul of its content moderation polices will have a real-world negative impact, embolden authoritarian regimes, and put its own users at risk
dfrlab.org
January 8, 2025 at 2:31 PM
"By retrenching on its content policies, Meta is reneging on previous statements that it wanted to create a safe and open space for people on its platforms...the pullback...will inevitably be felt offline." @markscott.bsky.social on Meta's decision to axe fact-checking: tinyurl.com/3v9vrkc8
Reposted by Kenton Thibaut
A statement from the Washington Post Guild on today's unconscionable layoffs.
January 8, 2025 at 1:41 PM