Athena Tong
@athenaktong.bsky.social
Hongkonger in Tokyo with cats 🗼🇯🇵🐱🐱
UTokyo | CSRI | Researcher
Fighting for freedoms 🌏
Researching info ops, geopolitics & economic security
UTokyo | CSRI | Researcher
Fighting for freedoms 🌏
Researching info ops, geopolitics & economic security
My article, State Goals, Private Tools: Digital Sovereignty and Surveillance Along the Belt and Road, dives into this evolving ecosystem and the implications for global digital governance.
📖 Read it here:
jamestown.org/program/stat...
📖 Read it here:
jamestown.org/program/stat...
State Goals, Private Tools: Digital Sovereignty and Surveillance Along the Belt and Road
Executive Summary: Beijing promotes digital sovereignty in its engagements with other countries but with the caveat that it can maintain access to partner countries’ digital systems. Leaked documents ...
jamestown.org
January 3, 2025 at 7:47 PM
My article, State Goals, Private Tools: Digital Sovereignty and Surveillance Along the Belt and Road, dives into this evolving ecosystem and the implications for global digital governance.
📖 Read it here:
jamestown.org/program/stat...
📖 Read it here:
jamestown.org/program/stat...
Beijing’s "high-quality development" promises may sound enticing, but the cost is clear: sovereignty, security, and trust.
#DigitalSovereignty #Cybersecurity #BeltandRoad #China
#DigitalSovereignty #Cybersecurity #BeltandRoad #China
January 3, 2025 at 7:47 PM
Beijing’s "high-quality development" promises may sound enticing, but the cost is clear: sovereignty, security, and trust.
#DigitalSovereignty #Cybersecurity #BeltandRoad #China
#DigitalSovereignty #Cybersecurity #BeltandRoad #China
What’s at Stake?
As the PRC pushes its Digital Silk Road 🚀, partner nations face risks including:
🔹Surveillance disguised as development. 👀
🔹Dependence on PRC-aligned infrastructure. 🛠️
🔹Long-term erosion of digital independence
As the PRC pushes its Digital Silk Road 🚀, partner nations face risks including:
🔹Surveillance disguised as development. 👀
🔹Dependence on PRC-aligned infrastructure. 🛠️
🔹Long-term erosion of digital independence
January 3, 2025 at 7:47 PM
What’s at Stake?
As the PRC pushes its Digital Silk Road 🚀, partner nations face risks including:
🔹Surveillance disguised as development. 👀
🔹Dependence on PRC-aligned infrastructure. 🛠️
🔹Long-term erosion of digital independence
As the PRC pushes its Digital Silk Road 🚀, partner nations face risks including:
🔹Surveillance disguised as development. 👀
🔹Dependence on PRC-aligned infrastructure. 🛠️
🔹Long-term erosion of digital independence
A New Paradigm of Digital Statecraft
By leveraging firms like iS00N, 🇨🇳 achieves:
🔹Operational distance to maintain deniability.
🔹Deeper control over partner nations’ digital infrastructure.
🔹Credibility in multilateral fora while undermining sovereignty on the ground.
By leveraging firms like iS00N, 🇨🇳 achieves:
🔹Operational distance to maintain deniability.
🔹Deeper control over partner nations’ digital infrastructure.
🔹Credibility in multilateral fora while undermining sovereignty on the ground.
January 3, 2025 at 7:47 PM
A New Paradigm of Digital Statecraft
By leveraging firms like iS00N, 🇨🇳 achieves:
🔹Operational distance to maintain deniability.
🔹Deeper control over partner nations’ digital infrastructure.
🔹Credibility in multilateral fora while undermining sovereignty on the ground.
By leveraging firms like iS00N, 🇨🇳 achieves:
🔹Operational distance to maintain deniability.
🔹Deeper control over partner nations’ digital infrastructure.
🔹Credibility in multilateral fora while undermining sovereignty on the ground.
Digital Sovereignty or Digital Subjugation?
While promoting “win-win cooperation”, 🇨🇳 ensures its own access to partner nations’ systems—contradicting its messaging on digital sovereignty.
The PRC’s dual strategy blurs the lines between state security and private enterprise.
While promoting “win-win cooperation”, 🇨🇳 ensures its own access to partner nations’ systems—contradicting its messaging on digital sovereignty.
The PRC’s dual strategy blurs the lines between state security and private enterprise.
January 3, 2025 at 7:47 PM
Digital Sovereignty or Digital Subjugation?
While promoting “win-win cooperation”, 🇨🇳 ensures its own access to partner nations’ systems—contradicting its messaging on digital sovereignty.
The PRC’s dual strategy blurs the lines between state security and private enterprise.
While promoting “win-win cooperation”, 🇨🇳 ensures its own access to partner nations’ systems—contradicting its messaging on digital sovereignty.
The PRC’s dual strategy blurs the lines between state security and private enterprise.
Our research uncovers how PRC contractors like iS00N target telecoms 📡, ministries 🏛️, and financial institutions 💰 in BRI nations. Tools include:
🔹ShadowPad RAT for multi-platform surveillance.
🔹Exploits enabling persistent access to critical systems.
🔹ShadowPad RAT for multi-platform surveillance.
🔹Exploits enabling persistent access to critical systems.
January 3, 2025 at 7:47 PM
Our research uncovers how PRC contractors like iS00N target telecoms 📡, ministries 🏛️, and financial institutions 💰 in BRI nations. Tools include:
🔹ShadowPad RAT for multi-platform surveillance.
🔹Exploits enabling persistent access to critical systems.
🔹ShadowPad RAT for multi-platform surveillance.
🔹Exploits enabling persistent access to critical systems.
In November 2024, China’s People’s Daily 📰 hailed Beijing’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) for its "high-quality development," emphasizing digital cooperation and technological standards.
But behind this rhetoric lies a stark contradiction.
But behind this rhetoric lies a stark contradiction.
January 3, 2025 at 7:47 PM
In November 2024, China’s People’s Daily 📰 hailed Beijing’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) for its "high-quality development," emphasizing digital cooperation and technological standards.
But behind this rhetoric lies a stark contradiction.
But behind this rhetoric lies a stark contradiction.
🌐 The takeaway:
Hong Kong shows us how digital authoritarianism works—and what's at stake if it spreads. Protecting internet freedom is a global responsibility.
For more, read our full report on Hong Kong's digital transformation: www.csri.global/research/hon...
#DigitalRights #InternetGovernance
Hong Kong shows us how digital authoritarianism works—and what's at stake if it spreads. Protecting internet freedom is a global responsibility.
For more, read our full report on Hong Kong's digital transformation: www.csri.global/research/hon...
#DigitalRights #InternetGovernance
Web of Control: Hong Kong’s Crackdown on Internet Freedom — China Strategic Risks Institute
This report examines the deteriorating landscape of internet freedom in Hong Kong, focusing on recent legal changes, the role of Information and Communications Technology (ICT) companies, and the broa...
www.csri.global
December 30, 2024 at 1:40 PM
🌐 The takeaway:
Hong Kong shows us how digital authoritarianism works—and what's at stake if it spreads. Protecting internet freedom is a global responsibility.
For more, read our full report on Hong Kong's digital transformation: www.csri.global/research/hon...
#DigitalRights #InternetGovernance
Hong Kong shows us how digital authoritarianism works—and what's at stake if it spreads. Protecting internet freedom is a global responsibility.
For more, read our full report on Hong Kong's digital transformation: www.csri.global/research/hon...
#DigitalRights #InternetGovernance
⚠️ Current Developments to Watch:
• Hong Kong's Critical Infrastructure Bill - potential new restrictions
• UN General Assembly's upcoming vote on cybercrime convention
These could further impact digital rights globally.
www.article19.org/resources/un...
• Hong Kong's Critical Infrastructure Bill - potential new restrictions
• UN General Assembly's upcoming vote on cybercrime convention
These could further impact digital rights globally.
www.article19.org/resources/un...
UN Cybercrime Convention: A blueprint for human rights violations - ARTICLE 19
ARTICLE 19 is seriously concerned about the UN Draft Convention on cybercrime, pending adoption by the UN General Assembly later in 2024.
www.article19.org
December 30, 2024 at 1:40 PM
⚠️ Current Developments to Watch:
• Hong Kong's Critical Infrastructure Bill - potential new restrictions
• UN General Assembly's upcoming vote on cybercrime convention
These could further impact digital rights globally.
www.article19.org/resources/un...
• Hong Kong's Critical Infrastructure Bill - potential new restrictions
• UN General Assembly's upcoming vote on cybercrime convention
These could further impact digital rights globally.
www.article19.org/resources/un...
💡 Why this matters globally:
Hong Kong's decline warns of what could happen if authoritarian models are adopted elsewhere. The ripple effects will reshape:
• Internet governance
• Corporate data policies
• Civil society's ability to organize and dissent
Hong Kong's decline warns of what could happen if authoritarian models are adopted elsewhere. The ripple effects will reshape:
• Internet governance
• Corporate data policies
• Civil society's ability to organize and dissent
December 30, 2024 at 1:40 PM
💡 Why this matters globally:
Hong Kong's decline warns of what could happen if authoritarian models are adopted elsewhere. The ripple effects will reshape:
• Internet governance
• Corporate data policies
• Civil society's ability to organize and dissent
Hong Kong's decline warns of what could happen if authoritarian models are adopted elsewhere. The ripple effects will reshape:
• Internet governance
• Corporate data policies
• Civil society's ability to organize and dissent
📂 Data Transfer Risks
Companies with operations linked to China face growing challenges. Without urgent reviews of data practices, they risk further entanglement in privacy violations.
Companies with operations linked to China face growing challenges. Without urgent reviews of data practices, they risk further entanglement in privacy violations.
December 30, 2024 at 1:40 PM
📂 Data Transfer Risks
Companies with operations linked to China face growing challenges. Without urgent reviews of data practices, they risk further entanglement in privacy violations.
Companies with operations linked to China face growing challenges. Without urgent reviews of data practices, they risk further entanglement in privacy violations.
🤐 Self-Censorship
Vague laws and high compliance costs push platforms, media, and civil society to over-comply. The chilling effect reshapes online discourse, often exceeding legal mandates.
Vague laws and high compliance costs push platforms, media, and civil society to over-comply. The chilling effect reshapes online discourse, often exceeding legal mandates.
December 30, 2024 at 1:40 PM
🤐 Self-Censorship
Vague laws and high compliance costs push platforms, media, and civil society to over-comply. The chilling effect reshapes online discourse, often exceeding legal mandates.
Vague laws and high compliance costs push platforms, media, and civil society to over-comply. The chilling effect reshapes online discourse, often exceeding legal mandates.
🏢 Corporate Complicity
ICT companies hold critical power in this equation. Their decisions—whether under pressure or willingly—shape privacy and free expression. This trend could be mirrored elsewhere as digital authoritarianism spreads.
ICT companies hold critical power in this equation. Their decisions—whether under pressure or willingly—shape privacy and free expression. This trend could be mirrored elsewhere as digital authoritarianism spreads.
December 30, 2024 at 1:40 PM
🏢 Corporate Complicity
ICT companies hold critical power in this equation. Their decisions—whether under pressure or willingly—shape privacy and free expression. This trend could be mirrored elsewhere as digital authoritarianism spreads.
ICT companies hold critical power in this equation. Their decisions—whether under pressure or willingly—shape privacy and free expression. This trend could be mirrored elsewhere as digital authoritarianism spreads.
🔍 Targeted Censorship
Instead of blanket bans, ISPs are pressured to censor specific content, creating a quieter but equally effective form of control. This targeted approach is harder to detect and counter.
Instead of blanket bans, ISPs are pressured to censor specific content, creating a quieter but equally effective form of control. This targeted approach is harder to detect and counter.
December 30, 2024 at 1:40 PM
🔍 Targeted Censorship
Instead of blanket bans, ISPs are pressured to censor specific content, creating a quieter but equally effective form of control. This targeted approach is harder to detect and counter.
Instead of blanket bans, ISPs are pressured to censor specific content, creating a quieter but equally effective form of control. This targeted approach is harder to detect and counter.
Key findings:
⚖️ Regulatory Shifts
New laws in Hong Kong increasingly reference mainland policies. This alignment is not just about control—it's about exporting a governance model.
⚖️ Regulatory Shifts
New laws in Hong Kong increasingly reference mainland policies. This alignment is not just about control—it's about exporting a governance model.
December 30, 2024 at 1:40 PM
Key findings:
⚖️ Regulatory Shifts
New laws in Hong Kong increasingly reference mainland policies. This alignment is not just about control—it's about exporting a governance model.
⚖️ Regulatory Shifts
New laws in Hong Kong increasingly reference mainland policies. This alignment is not just about control—it's about exporting a governance model.
Hong Kong is a testing ground for China's digital authoritarian playbook.
Authoritarian regimes worldwide are watching and learning how to:
• Subtly censor online content
• Use companies as intermediaries
• Weaponize data regulations for control
Authoritarian regimes worldwide are watching and learning how to:
• Subtly censor online content
• Use companies as intermediaries
• Weaponize data regulations for control
December 30, 2024 at 1:40 PM
Hong Kong is a testing ground for China's digital authoritarian playbook.
Authoritarian regimes worldwide are watching and learning how to:
• Subtly censor online content
• Use companies as intermediaries
• Weaponize data regulations for control
Authoritarian regimes worldwide are watching and learning how to:
• Subtly censor online content
• Use companies as intermediaries
• Weaponize data regulations for control
Since 2020, Hong Kong's digital environment has undergone a dramatic shift, with:
⚖️ Legal changes aligning with mainland China
🔍 Targeted content censorship
🤐 A chilling wave of self-censorship
But this isn't just a Hong Kong problem.
⚖️ Legal changes aligning with mainland China
🔍 Targeted content censorship
🤐 A chilling wave of self-censorship
But this isn't just a Hong Kong problem.
December 30, 2024 at 1:40 PM
Since 2020, Hong Kong's digital environment has undergone a dramatic shift, with:
⚖️ Legal changes aligning with mainland China
🔍 Targeted content censorship
🤐 A chilling wave of self-censorship
But this isn't just a Hong Kong problem.
⚖️ Legal changes aligning with mainland China
🔍 Targeted content censorship
🤐 A chilling wave of self-censorship
But this isn't just a Hong Kong problem.
If you missed our panel discussion, it’s now available online. Dive deeper into these topics and hear from my inspiring fellow panelists.
📹 Watch here: www.youtube.com/live/H7aZ3rQ...
📹 Watch here: www.youtube.com/live/H7aZ3rQ...
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December 28, 2024 at 3:54 PM
If you missed our panel discussion, it’s now available online. Dive deeper into these topics and hear from my inspiring fellow panelists.
📹 Watch here: www.youtube.com/live/H7aZ3rQ...
📹 Watch here: www.youtube.com/live/H7aZ3rQ...
The global Hong Kong diaspora is a critical force in this fight. By preserving the culture and identity of Hong Kong, in addition to human rights advocacy, we ensure the movement stays alive, even in diaspora.
December 28, 2024 at 3:54 PM
The global Hong Kong diaspora is a critical force in this fight. By preserving the culture and identity of Hong Kong, in addition to human rights advocacy, we ensure the movement stays alive, even in diaspora.
Beyond TNR, Beijing uses economic coercion and information manipulaion and interference to enforce its will. Democratic nations must push back through:
💠Strengthening trade partnerships that reduce dependency on China
💠Building robust counter-influence operation networks
💠Strengthening trade partnerships that reduce dependency on China
💠Building robust counter-influence operation networks
December 28, 2024 at 3:54 PM
Beyond TNR, Beijing uses economic coercion and information manipulaion and interference to enforce its will. Democratic nations must push back through:
💠Strengthening trade partnerships that reduce dependency on China
💠Building robust counter-influence operation networks
💠Strengthening trade partnerships that reduce dependency on China
💠Building robust counter-influence operation networks
My work at UTokyo and CSRI focuses on countering risks brought by the PRC, esp economic, informational, cognitive and psychological vulnerabilities. There is always a duty of care when we are entrusted with the voices and thoughts of our community.
December 28, 2024 at 3:54 PM
My work at UTokyo and CSRI focuses on countering risks brought by the PRC, esp economic, informational, cognitive and psychological vulnerabilities. There is always a duty of care when we are entrusted with the voices and thoughts of our community.