Russia has turned the internet into another battlefield. From messengers to game servers, its agents try to shake Ukraine from the inside by luring youth into serious crimes.
I’m not surprised about the Russian tactic. Is there any way that Ukraine can restrict people under 18 from using Telegram and other social media services? I think Australia has done that for those under 16.
In the US, White supremacists are using video games to recruit lonely teen boys and young men to their cause. It wouldn’t surprise me if foreign governments were involved with this as a tool of social discord and possibly future sabotage.
I don’t know. It probably depends upon how it’s done. I’m sure how the Australians are restricting Instagram to those over 16; maybe there are lessons there for the rest of the world.
I think they are about equal, but you're right about the harder to notice. I mean are the police gang squads monitoring all the chat rooms on all the games/apps that are out there? I suppose with A.I. it might be a little easier, but the cops are usually a couple of steps behind when it comes to tech.
It would be great if Ukrainians stayed off Telegram, or if there was a social media platform app developed by Ukrainians for Ukrainians. I guess using the Ukrainian language only would be unrealistic.
Oleksandra or Anna: What is the status of the Ukrainian language now? Are people choosing to speak Ukrainian more and giving up Russian? Or, are they speaking both?
I find any story about the digital ecosystem to be fascinating. I could talk for hours about this subject. In the poll I said I felt safe mainly because I’m careful about the sites I visit and follow and I don’t share a lot of information about me. But I do recognize that is also an illusion. The surveillance industry in big tech is massive. We all have a digital footprint.
I feel relatively safe online because the last part of my career included some management responsibility for IT security at an American owned plant in China. We were quite paranoid. I could still be a victim, because safety is never 100%, but I take precautions and pay attention when new threats are publicized.
An important story. Thank you.
I’m not surprised about the Russian tactic. Is there any way that Ukraine can restrict people under 18 from using Telegram and other social media services? I think Australia has done that for those under 16.
In the US, White supremacists are using video games to recruit lonely teen boys and young men to their cause. It wouldn’t surprise me if foreign governments were involved with this as a tool of social discord and possibly future sabotage.
There could definitely be some ways to restrict it! Do you think restrictions would help, or just make the problem harder to track?
I don’t know. It probably depends upon how it’s done. I’m sure how the Australians are restricting Instagram to those over 16; maybe there are lessons there for the rest of the world.
This tactic reminds me of how gang recruit members and threaten them if they try to leave the life.
Yeah, there’s a real parallel, both rely on targeting vulnerable people, and then applying pressure to keep them in.
Do you think online recruitment is more effective than in-person, or maybe just harder to notice?
I think they are about equal, but you're right about the harder to notice. I mean are the police gang squads monitoring all the chat rooms on all the games/apps that are out there? I suppose with A.I. it might be a little easier, but the cops are usually a couple of steps behind when it comes to tech.
Anyone who believes that they’re “safe on the internet” is likely a promising mark. The more you know, the more worried you’ll be.
True,feeling “safe” online can make people careless. Awareness helps, but only if it actually changes behavior.
Do you think most people act on what they know, or ignore it?
It would be great if Ukrainians stayed off Telegram, or if there was a social media platform app developed by Ukrainians for Ukrainians. I guess using the Ukrainian language only would be unrealistic.
Oleksandra or Anna: What is the status of the Ukrainian language now? Are people choosing to speak Ukrainian more and giving up Russian? Or, are they speaking both?
I realize Telegram is not necessarily pro-Putin.
I find any story about the digital ecosystem to be fascinating. I could talk for hours about this subject. In the poll I said I felt safe mainly because I’m careful about the sites I visit and follow and I don’t share a lot of information about me. But I do recognize that is also an illusion. The surveillance industry in big tech is massive. We all have a digital footprint.
I feel relatively safe online because the last part of my career included some management responsibility for IT security at an American owned plant in China. We were quite paranoid. I could still be a victim, because safety is never 100%, but I take precautions and pay attention when new threats are publicized.