Bill Robinson
@billrobinson.bsky.social
Researcher focused on Canadian SIGINT activities past and present. Also FVEY and other countries. Citizen Lab Research Fellow. Occasionally compared to a hedgehog. He/him.
Blog: https://luxexumbra.blogspot.com/
Blog: https://luxexumbra.blogspot.com/
Reposted by Bill Robinson
Massive shoutout out to whoever handles the Royal Canadian Air Force’s social media account. They responded to every single comment on their already very solid Trans Day of Remembrance post and they responded like this…
November 22, 2025 at 1:03 AM
Massive shoutout out to whoever handles the Royal Canadian Air Force’s social media account. They responded to every single comment on their already very solid Trans Day of Remembrance post and they responded like this…
Reposted by Bill Robinson
'The current Labour government does make considerable use of the NSC, but has made some structural changes which have created more distance between policymakers and the intelligence agencies' writes @drceliap-v.bsky.social in latest RUSI Commentary.
Learning from Canberra: A Smarter Vision for UK Intelligence and National Security
Without adopting Canberra's policies wholesale, the UK's intelligence-policymaker network would benefit from making some of the changes Australia has implemented, particularly the designation of a principal adviser to the Prime Minister on intelligence ...
www.rusi.org
November 21, 2025 at 1:00 PM
'The current Labour government does make considerable use of the NSC, but has made some structural changes which have created more distance between policymakers and the intelligence agencies' writes @drceliap-v.bsky.social in latest RUSI Commentary.
Reposted by Bill Robinson
How did Canadian officials balance the conflicting responsibilities of a neutral International Control Commission (ICC) representative, and a supportive ally as US intervention intensified in Viet Nam during the complicated years of 1962–1966? This Canadian policy series previews key moments.
November 21, 2025 at 2:27 PM
How did Canadian officials balance the conflicting responsibilities of a neutral International Control Commission (ICC) representative, and a supportive ally as US intervention intensified in Viet Nam during the complicated years of 1962–1966? This Canadian policy series previews key moments.
Reposted by Bill Robinson
Sloppy reporting by @theguardian.com, which should have made clear that foreign vessels are free to enter the 200 nautical mile exclusive economic zone, which is different from the 12 nautical mile territorial sea.
Russian spy ship enters British waters and shines lasers at military pilots
Defence secretary reveals details of recent incursions as he warns UK is facing ‘new era of threat’ from hostile countries
www.theguardian.com
November 19, 2025 at 8:52 PM
Sloppy reporting by @theguardian.com, which should have made clear that foreign vessels are free to enter the 200 nautical mile exclusive economic zone, which is different from the 12 nautical mile territorial sea.
The Yantar's activities are threatening and its use of lasers inexcusable. But it is irresponsible in a claim like this not to clarify whether the ship ever entered actual territorial waters as opposed to the UK's Exclusive Economic Zone (where foreign vessels have a right to travel).
Russian spy ship enters British waters and shines lasers at military pilots
Russian spy ship enters British waters and shines lasers at military pilots
Defence secretary reveals details of recent incursions as he warns UK is facing ‘new era of threat’ from hostile countries
A Russian spy ship has entered British waters and shone lasers at military pilots, the defence secretary has said, as he warned the UK was facing a “new era of threat” from hostile countries around the world.
John Healey said on Wednesday the Yantar surveillance ship had crossed in and out of the UK’s exclusive economic zone multiple times in recent weeks, not for the first time this year. Continue reading...
www.theguardian.com
November 19, 2025 at 3:18 PM
The Yantar's activities are threatening and its use of lasers inexcusable. But it is irresponsible in a claim like this not to clarify whether the ship ever entered actual territorial waters as opposed to the UK's Exclusive Economic Zone (where foreign vessels have a right to travel).
Reposted by Bill Robinson
Empire and satellite tracking collide. This is a commemorative stamp of the U.S. Air Force satellite tracking station on Mahe Island in the Seychelles, a British territory until 1976. The defunct station is pictured on the right.
November 18, 2025 at 3:08 PM
Empire and satellite tracking collide. This is a commemorative stamp of the U.S. Air Force satellite tracking station on Mahe Island in the Seychelles, a British territory until 1976. The defunct station is pictured on the right.
Reposted by Bill Robinson
Reposted by Bill Robinson
New article published in Intelligence and National Security (open access) by Peter de Werd titled "The value of engaged critique: civic intelligence oversight and the freedom of information in the Netherlands"
www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
www.tandfonline.com
November 18, 2025 at 4:43 PM
New article published in Intelligence and National Security (open access) by Peter de Werd titled "The value of engaged critique: civic intelligence oversight and the freedom of information in the Netherlands"
www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
Reposted by Bill Robinson
Scoop: CISA plans to embark on a hiring spree and change some workforce policies in an effort to rebuild its depleted ranks ahead of a possible conflict with China, according to a memo from its acting director that I obtained.
www.cybersecuritydive.com/news/cisa-hi...
www.cybersecuritydive.com/news/cisa-hi...
CISA, eyeing China, plans hiring spree to rebuild its depleted ranks
The agency will also change some of its workforce policies to avoid driving away talented staff.
www.cybersecuritydive.com
November 17, 2025 at 9:30 PM
Scoop: CISA plans to embark on a hiring spree and change some workforce policies in an effort to rebuild its depleted ranks ahead of a possible conflict with China, according to a memo from its acting director that I obtained.
www.cybersecuritydive.com/news/cisa-hi...
www.cybersecuritydive.com/news/cisa-hi...
Reposted by Bill Robinson
UK downplays reports it has stopped sharing intelligence with US regarding narco-traffickers
UK downplays reports it has stopped sharing intelligence with US regarding narco-traffickers
‘Longstanding intelligence and law enforcement frameworks’ are continuing, Yvette Cooper says
*
UK politics live – latest updates
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US politics live – latest updates
Britain’s foreign secretary has downplayed reports that the UK had stopped sharing intelligence with the US that could be used by the Americans to conduct deadly attacks against alleged narco-traffickers in the Caribbean.
Yvette Cooper, speaking on a ministerial trip to Naples, said “longstanding intelligence and law enforcement frameworks” that existed between the countries were continuing as the US deployed a carrier strike group to the region. Continue reading...
www.theguardian.com
November 17, 2025 at 3:40 PM
UK downplays reports it has stopped sharing intelligence with US regarding narco-traffickers
Reposted by Bill Robinson
A counterproductive and unlawful U.S. policy:
Several States have now curtailed counter-narcotics intelligence support and/or called out U.S. boat strikes as illegal:
Canada
Colombia
EU
France
Mexico
Netherlands?
UK
We discuss their legal obligations that forbid support for boat strikes.
Several States have now curtailed counter-narcotics intelligence support and/or called out U.S. boat strikes as illegal:
Canada
Colombia
EU
France
Mexico
Netherlands?
UK
We discuss their legal obligations that forbid support for boat strikes.
Obligation of States to Stop Intelligence Support for U.S. Strikes
The only way States can avoid complicity in “arbitrary killings” under IHRL is to refrain from sharing intelligence that enables them.
www.justsecurity.org
November 17, 2025 at 3:33 PM
A counterproductive and unlawful U.S. policy:
Several States have now curtailed counter-narcotics intelligence support and/or called out U.S. boat strikes as illegal:
Canada
Colombia
EU
France
Mexico
Netherlands?
UK
We discuss their legal obligations that forbid support for boat strikes.
Several States have now curtailed counter-narcotics intelligence support and/or called out U.S. boat strikes as illegal:
Canada
Colombia
EU
France
Mexico
Netherlands?
UK
We discuss their legal obligations that forbid support for boat strikes.
Reposted by Bill Robinson
🚨SCOOP 🚨The Pentagon is spending millions on a secretive startup that’s making hacking AI to help carry out operations on hundreds of targets at once.
In-q-tel, the VC org founded by the CIA, is a backer of the startup, called Twenty.
www.forbes.com/sites/thomas...
In-q-tel, the VC org founded by the CIA, is a backer of the startup, called Twenty.
www.forbes.com/sites/thomas...
The Pentagon Is Spending Millions On AI Hacking From Startup Twenty
The U.S. government has been contracting stealth startup Twenty, which is working on AI agents and automated hacking of foreign targets at massive scale.
www.forbes.com
November 15, 2025 at 4:14 PM
🚨SCOOP 🚨The Pentagon is spending millions on a secretive startup that’s making hacking AI to help carry out operations on hundreds of targets at once.
In-q-tel, the VC org founded by the CIA, is a backer of the startup, called Twenty.
www.forbes.com/sites/thomas...
In-q-tel, the VC org founded by the CIA, is a backer of the startup, called Twenty.
www.forbes.com/sites/thomas...
Reposted by Bill Robinson
It’s hard to even know where to begin with this. Professor Falk is in his 90s and one of the world’s most prominent international legal scholars. It beggars belief that he could even remotely be considered a threat to Canada.
Falk, who has investigated Israeli abuses, says questioning reflects push to silence truth of Israel's war on Gaza.
Former UN special rapporteur Richard Falk interrogated for hours in Canada
Falk, who has investigated Israeli abuses, says questioning reflects push to silence truth of Israel's war on Gaza.
bit.ly
November 16, 2025 at 12:04 AM
It’s hard to even know where to begin with this. Professor Falk is in his 90s and one of the world’s most prominent international legal scholars. It beggars belief that he could even remotely be considered a threat to Canada.
Reposted by Bill Robinson
If you suspect Golden Dome to be crazy, exorbitantly expensive, unrealistic, and deeply destabilizing, you’re right. And it looks like a sure way to create a space race that will threaten civilian (and military) use of space even more. breakingdefense.com/2025/11/gold...
Golden Dome SBIs will need to be defended from adversary attack: Experts - Breaking Defense
The satellites will need to be defended "not only from adversary kinetic or local orbital issues, but also from cyber attacks, electronic jamming and laser attacks," said Patrick Binning, a professor ...
breakingdefense.com
November 14, 2025 at 2:55 PM
If you suspect Golden Dome to be crazy, exorbitantly expensive, unrealistic, and deeply destabilizing, you’re right. And it looks like a sure way to create a space race that will threaten civilian (and military) use of space even more. breakingdefense.com/2025/11/gold...
Reposted by Bill Robinson
" the boost that the current government has promised to the defence sector is not based on any solid strategic plan. Defence spending is meant to increase to five percent of GDP, but nobody seems to know what this money will be spent on and to what purpose."
November 14, 2025 at 3:07 PM
" the boost that the current government has promised to the defence sector is not based on any solid strategic plan. Defence spending is meant to increase to five percent of GDP, but nobody seems to know what this money will be spent on and to what purpose."
Reposted by Bill Robinson
The Access to Information Act is a complete shambles and suffocating Canadian history, exhibit 3007.
It is wild – and tragic – that a briefing on the general contours of Canada's foreign policy regarding Europe from 1951 are still closed.
It is wild – and tragic – that a briefing on the general contours of Canada's foreign policy regarding Europe from 1951 are still closed.
November 14, 2025 at 4:18 PM
The Access to Information Act is a complete shambles and suffocating Canadian history, exhibit 3007.
It is wild – and tragic – that a briefing on the general contours of Canada's foreign policy regarding Europe from 1951 are still closed.
It is wild – and tragic – that a briefing on the general contours of Canada's foreign policy regarding Europe from 1951 are still closed.
Reposted by Bill Robinson
I know not everyone is a fan of Substack, so if you want to access our Insight Monitor, you can do that directly through our website.
Free articles are in our news section, and paywalled articles are in our members area:
www.insightthreatintel.com/members
Free articles are in our news section, and paywalled articles are in our members area:
www.insightthreatintel.com/members
Membership area for Insight Threat Intelligence — Insight Threat Intelligence
Access to the Insight Monitor newsletter
www.insightthreatintel.com
November 13, 2025 at 8:46 PM
I know not everyone is a fan of Substack, so if you want to access our Insight Monitor, you can do that directly through our website.
Free articles are in our news section, and paywalled articles are in our members area:
www.insightthreatintel.com/members
Free articles are in our news section, and paywalled articles are in our members area:
www.insightthreatintel.com/members
Reposted by Bill Robinson
Book Review: The Business of Secrets
The Business of Secrets: Adventures in Selling Encryption Around the World by Fred Kinch (May 24, 2004) From the vantage point of today, it's surreal reading about the commercial cryptography business in the 1970s. Nobody knew anything. The manufacturers didn't…
The Business of Secrets: Adventures in Selling Encryption Around the World by Fred Kinch (May 24, 2004) From the vantage point of today, it's surreal reading about the commercial cryptography business in the 1970s. Nobody knew anything. The manufacturers didn't…
Book Review: The Business of Secrets
The Business of Secrets: Adventures in Selling Encryption Around the World by Fred Kinch (May 24, 2004) From the vantage point of today, it's surreal reading about the commercial cryptography business in the 1970s. Nobody knew anything. The manufacturers didn't know whether the cryptography they sold was any good. The customers didn't know whether the crypto they bought was any good.
www.schneier.com
November 13, 2025 at 12:10 PM
Book Review: The Business of Secrets
The Business of Secrets: Adventures in Selling Encryption Around the World by Fred Kinch (May 24, 2004) From the vantage point of today, it's surreal reading about the commercial cryptography business in the 1970s. Nobody knew anything. The manufacturers didn't…
The Business of Secrets: Adventures in Selling Encryption Around the World by Fred Kinch (May 24, 2004) From the vantage point of today, it's surreal reading about the commercial cryptography business in the 1970s. Nobody knew anything. The manufacturers didn't…
Reposted by Bill Robinson
Cyber resilience starts local.
Hear Shelly Bruce on grassroots cybersecurity at Policy Village, BSides Ottawa.
#CyberSecurity #Grassroots
Hear Shelly Bruce on grassroots cybersecurity at Policy Village, BSides Ottawa.
#CyberSecurity #Grassroots
November 9, 2025 at 9:01 PM
Cyber resilience starts local.
Hear Shelly Bruce on grassroots cybersecurity at Policy Village, BSides Ottawa.
#CyberSecurity #Grassroots
Hear Shelly Bruce on grassroots cybersecurity at Policy Village, BSides Ottawa.
#CyberSecurity #Grassroots
Reposted by Bill Robinson
Australia's intelligence chief warned that Chinese hackers are trying to break into its networks, sometimes successfully, to "pre-position" for sabotage ahead of an anticipated invasion of Taiwan.
Australian spy chief warns Chinese hackers are 'probing' critical networks for espionage and sabotage | TechCrunch
Australia's intelligence chief warned that Chinese hackers are trying to break into its networks, sometimes successfully, to "pre-position" for sabotage ahead of an anticipated invasion of Taiwan.
techcrunch.com
November 12, 2025 at 12:48 PM
Australia's intelligence chief warned that Chinese hackers are trying to break into its networks, sometimes successfully, to "pre-position" for sabotage ahead of an anticipated invasion of Taiwan.
Reposted by Bill Robinson
Potential Privy Council Office intelligence cuts ‘counterintuitive & risky,’ say national security experts. According to experts, Mark Carney should be expanding his access to relevant analysis rather than shrinking from the standards set by Canada's "partners." hilltimes.com/story/2025/1...
Potential PCO intelligence cuts 'counterintuitive and risky,' say national security experts
The government's effort to find savings by scrapping duplication risks undermining the country’s limited analytical capacity, says Stephanie Carvin.
hilltimes.com
November 12, 2025 at 1:23 PM
Potential Privy Council Office intelligence cuts ‘counterintuitive & risky,’ say national security experts. According to experts, Mark Carney should be expanding his access to relevant analysis rather than shrinking from the standards set by Canada's "partners." hilltimes.com/story/2025/1...
Reposted by Bill Robinson
I feel like the business community in Canada is just not getting the message - there is no miracle deal with Trump and any arrangement we make will be immediately upended when he somehow takes offence at some trivial thing.
November 12, 2025 at 1:21 PM
I feel like the business community in Canada is just not getting the message - there is no miracle deal with Trump and any arrangement we make will be immediately upended when he somehow takes offence at some trivial thing.
Reposted by Bill Robinson
Issue 75 of @photoeditorial.bsky.social is now available and it's beautiful. I'm chuffed to have two articles in this issue, one on the border-related projects of Ruth Kaplan and Isabelle Hayeur, as well as one on the public Photo Walk developed by the School of the Photographic Arts: Ottawa.
November 12, 2025 at 3:33 AM
Issue 75 of @photoeditorial.bsky.social is now available and it's beautiful. I'm chuffed to have two articles in this issue, one on the border-related projects of Ruth Kaplan and Isabelle Hayeur, as well as one on the public Photo Walk developed by the School of the Photographic Arts: Ottawa.
Reposted by Bill Robinson
Reposted by Bill Robinson
📢New blog by Ernie Regehr - Arctic Military Preparedness Needs More “Jaw Jaw”
Of course, all eight Arctic states insist that beefing up military preparedness is intended to avoid, not fight, an Arctic war... 🔗 www.cips-cepi.ca/2025/11/11/a...
Of course, all eight Arctic states insist that beefing up military preparedness is intended to avoid, not fight, an Arctic war... 🔗 www.cips-cepi.ca/2025/11/11/a...
November 11, 2025 at 5:06 PM
📢New blog by Ernie Regehr - Arctic Military Preparedness Needs More “Jaw Jaw”
Of course, all eight Arctic states insist that beefing up military preparedness is intended to avoid, not fight, an Arctic war... 🔗 www.cips-cepi.ca/2025/11/11/a...
Of course, all eight Arctic states insist that beefing up military preparedness is intended to avoid, not fight, an Arctic war... 🔗 www.cips-cepi.ca/2025/11/11/a...