Surveillance-savvy Hong Kong protesters go digitally dark

hawki · Jun 13, 2019

"...This week groups of demonstrators donned masks, goggles, helmets and caps ...to make it harder for them to be identified.

Many said they turned off their location tracking on their phones and beefed up their digital privacy settings before joining protests, or deleted conversations and photos on social media and messaging apps after they left the demonstrations.

There were unusually long lines at ticket machines in the city underground metro stations as protesters used cash to buy tickets rather than tap-in with the city's ubiquitous Octopus cards -- whose movements can be more easily tracked.

In a city where WhatsApp is usually king, protesters have embraced the encrypted messaging app Telegram in recent days, believing it offers better cyber protection and also because it allows larger groups to co-ordinate.

https://news.yahoo.com/surveillance-savvy-hong-kong-protesters-digitally-dark-003014805.html

hawki · Jul 1, 2019

"How apps power Hong Kong's 'leaderless' protests

In a tiny room on the edge of a nondescript building complex sits an unlikely participant in Hong Kong's protest movement. Behind his laptop computer, Tony (not his real name) monitors scores of groups on private messaging app Telegram and online forums.

Organisers say volunteers like Tony are running hundreds of Telegram groups that are powering Hong Kong's protest turned civil disobedience campaign..."

https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-48802125

guest · Jul 7, 2019

Hong Kong Protests Show Dangers of a Cashless Society
Many digital payments can be tracked, potentially assisting an authoritarian crackdown
July 2, 2019
https://reason.com/2019/07/02/hong-kong-protests-show-dangers-of-a-cashless-society/

Allowing cash to die would be a grave mistake. A cashless society is a surveillance society. The recent round of protests in Hong Kong highlights exactly what we have to lose.

So tens of thousands of Hongkongers took to the streets to protest what they saw as creeping tyranny from a powerful threat. But they did it in a very particular way.
The risk was that a government could view the central database of Octopus transactions to unmask these democratic ne'er-do-wells. Traveling downtown during the height of the protests? You could get put on a list, even if you just happened to be in the area.

Using cash to purchase single tickets meant that governments couldn't connect activists' activities with their Octopus accounts. It was instant anonymity. Sure, it was less convenient.
But the trade-off of avoiding persecution and jail time was well worth it.
Click to expand...

The answer is that there is simply no substitute for the privacy that cash, including digitized versions like cryptocurrencies, provide. Even if all of the alleged downsides that critics bemoan were true, cash would still be worth defending and celebrating for its core privacy-preserving functions.
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Minimalist · Jul 8, 2019

Hong Kong’s protesters put AirDrop to ingenious use to breach China’s Firewall

Now, Hong Kong’s protesters are using AirDrop, a file-sharing feature that allows Apple devices to send photos and videos over Bluetooth and Wi-Fi, to breach China’s Great Firewall in order to spread information to mainland Chinese visitors in the city. Leaving AirDrop settings open allows anyone in the vicinity to send files to your device.
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https://qz.com/1660460/hong-kong-protesters-use-airdrop-to-breach-chinas-firewall/

guest · Jul 29, 2019

Protest data breaches threaten HK’s hub ambitions
July 29, 2019
https://macaudailytimes.com.mo/world-views-protest-data-breaches-threaten-hks-hub-ambitions.html

Hong Kong’s ambitions to be an international data-center hub are a potential casualty of the city’s mass protests. Privacy breaches stemming from a summer of clashes between demonstrators and police threaten to erode confidence in the city as a base for foreign companies to set up storage facilities. To alleviate concerns, the government needs to improve security and regulation in the handling of sensitive data.

Last month, dozens of protesters were arrested after being treated in the emergency ward of a public hospital following battles with riot police. The city’s Hospital Authority subsequently denied leaking patient data – despite the discovery of an internal document labeled “for police” that listed names of protesters seeking medical treatment, according to the South China Morning Post. At around the same time, the personal information of more than 800 police officers was hacked and released online.
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guest · Jul 30, 2019

Lol so much naivety...as if biometrics are only limited to facial features, what about cranium analysis, walking patterns comparison, body heat mapping & signatures, etc...

Not saying that someone who never used to be in the protesting area and withdrawed money there will be flagged as potential protester...

zapjb · Jul 30, 2019

Bless the peaceful Hong Kong protesters.

guest · Jul 30, 2019

zapjb said: ↑

Bless the peaceful Hong Kong protesters.
Click to expand...

Peacefully protesting has no effects. Violent actions get more results but are the means justify the end? And at what price? For what goal?

hawki · Aug 1, 2019

Video: Hong Kong Protesters Use Lasers To Disrupt Facial Recognition Cameras

https://twitter.com/limportant_fr/status/1156077552714354688/video/1

guest · Aug 2, 2019

Hong Kong protesters use lasers to distract and confuse
August 1, 2019
https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/e...istract-and-confuse-police-shine-lights-right

Frontline protesters - who always cover their faces and sometimes even the brands of their shoes to prevent identification - have fixed the strong beams at surveillance cameras to stop themselves from being easily spotted and identified.
The lasers are one of the identity-masking efforts by those protesting that reflects widespread suspicion that the lines between China and Hong Kong no longer exist.

Some officers pointed high powered beams at television crews and photographers trying to capture the action as it unfolded - leading to questions about their commitment to the press' freedom to openly cover the clashes without interference.
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guest · Aug 14, 2019

TikTok’s parent company appears to be censoring the Hong Kong protests
August 14, 2019
https://qz.com/1686840/bytedances-toutiao-search-and-tiktok-may-censor-hong-kong-protests/

ByteDance, the Beijing-based company behind the popular short-video app TikTok, has started its own search engine to compete with the likes of Baidu. Called “Toutiao Search,” [...]
Like Baidu and Microsoft’s Bing, Toutiao Search appears to be censoring results to appease the Chinese government.

ByteDance’s selective information surfacing doesn’t end there. On the US version of its TikTok app, the hashtag #HongKong didn’t seem to provide any results related to the Hong Kong protests. A search for #HongKongProtest returned just three results with police and protestors clashing.
ByteDance wasn’t immediately available to explain whether the Chinese version of TikTok, called “Douyin,” has a stricter content removal policy related to the Hong Kong protests
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guest · Aug 19, 2019

China Attacks Hong Kong Protesters With Fake Social Posts
August 19, 2019
https://www.wired.com/story/china-twitter-facebook-hong-kong-protests-disinformation/

In response to widespread pro-democracy demonstrations in Hong Kong, the Chinese government launched an online disinformation campaign casting the protesters as members of ISIS and cockroaches, according to disclosures made by Twitter and Facebook on Monday.
Twitter announced Monday it had removed over 900 accounts it believes were established by the Chinese government, [...] The accounts were part of a much larger network of around 200,000 accounts Twitter took down before they were "substantially active" on the service.

Both Twitter and Facebook also ran paid advertisements from Chinese state-run media agencies like China Daily, Xinhua News, and CGTN, which discredited the protesters or painted them as disruptive, according to investigations from Buzzfeed News and Gizmodo.
After the reports came out, Twitter announced it would no longer accept advertising from “state-controlled news media entities.”
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guest · Aug 21, 2019

Twitter announced Monday it had removed over 900 accounts it believes were established by the Chinese government, [...]
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Baffled student tells Twitter: 'I'm not a Chinese agent'
August 20, 2019
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-49416617

The accounts taken down represented "the most active portions of this campaign”, the company said.

Mr Ivezic, who was born in Croatia and says he has never been to China, recently completed his thesis. The subject? “Disinformation, and how artificial intelligence can empower the tools that China and Russia have to misinform us.”

“It is a bit ironic that something like this would happen to me,” he said after I contacted him about the list.
Luka doesn’t exactly fit that description - indeed, he used his account to post things you’d think China would prefer not to be out there, such as the concern over the security implications of Western countries using tech giant Huawei.
According to the list tweets picked up by Twitter's moderators, the account was never used to tweet - or, it appears, retweet - anything remotely connected to the unrest in Hong Kong.
Click to expand...

guest · Aug 23, 2019

Hong Kong protesters warn of Telegram issue that can disclose their identities
Message shared on discussion boards sparks panic among protesters
August 23, 2019
https://www.zdnet.com/article/hong-...ram-issue-that-can-disclose-their-identities/

Hong Kong software engineers have published warnings today against using Telegram to coordinate protests due to an issue in the instant messaging app.

They say the bug can allow a threat actor, such as Chinese law enforcement or intelligence services, to obtain the phone numbers users utilized to register a Telegram account, which authorities can then track down to protesters' real-world identities.
The issue is especially dangerous for protesters who have been very active in public Telegram groups, either arranging or urging other users to attend protests.

After details about this bug have been shared on LIHKG, a very popular discussion board for Hong Kong residents earlier today, the bug was also independently confirmed by several Hong Kong software engineers.
This group of engineers has issued their own alert on the matter, and also tried reaching out to Telegram to get the issue fixed.
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Krusty · Aug 24, 2019

Smart lamppost toppled to ground by Hong Kong demonstrators over Chinese surveillance fears

Hong Kong protesters cut down a smart lamppost and police officers fired tear gas on Saturday as chaotic scenes returned to the protests for the first time in more than a week.
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Protesters used an electric saw to slice through the bottom of the lamppost, while others pulled ropes tied around it.

The demonstrators, who were holding up umbrellas to hide their identities, cheered as it toppled over.

They were part of a larger group marching to demand the removal of the lampposts over worries they could contain high-tech cameras and facial recognition software used for surveillance by Chinese authorities.
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https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-08...ampposts-cut-down-surveillance-fears/11445606

Minimalist · Aug 28, 2019

Hong Kong ISPs oppose any government plans to restrict internet network

The Hong Kong Internet Service Providers Association (HKISPA) released a statement on Wednesday, decrying any plans that would restrict Hong Kong's open internet network.

"HKISPA would like to warn that, imposing any insensible restrictions on the open Internet would only result in more restrictions, as the original restrictions wouldn't be effective, and ultimately the result is putting Hong Kong's Internet behind a big firewall," the organisation said.
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https://www.zdnet.com/article/hong-...overnment-plans-to-restrict-internet-network/

hawki · Aug 30, 2019

mood said: ↑

Hong Kong protesters warn of Telegram issue that can disclose their identities
Message shared on discussion boards sparks panic among protesters
August 23, 2019
https://www.zdnet.com/article/hong-...ram-issue-that-can-disclose-their-identities/
Click to expand...

"Telegram moves to protect identity of Hong Kong protesters

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Telegram, a popular encrypted messaging app, will allow users to cloak their telephone numbers to safeguard Hong Kong protesters against monitoring by Chinese authorities, according to a person with direct knowledge of the effort.

The update to Telegram, planned for release over the next few days, will allow protesters to block Chinese authorities from discovering their identities in the app’s large group chats..."

https://in.reuters.com/article/us-h...dentity-of-hong-kong-protesters-idINKCN1VK2NI

guest · Aug 31, 2019

Why are Hong Kong protesters targeting lamp posts?
August 30, 2019
https://www.abacusnews.com/digital-...otesters-targeting-lamp-posts/article/3024355

Unlike regular, boring old lamp posts, these expensive devices are equipped with cameras, Bluetooth beacons and RFID technology. The US$34.75 million-worth of tech-heavy posts can collect traffic and weather data, monitor for illegal dumping of waste, and soon even improve Wi-Fi and 5G network coverage.
Bluetooth beacons inside the lamp posts, used for determining the position of vehicles, were tracked to Hong Kong-based subcontractor TickTack Technology.

One of the groups that has been critical of the project from the start is the Surveillance Lamppost Concern Initiative. Its main concern is that smart lamp posts could be used to monitor the population and flag certain individuals, similar to what a data leak from a Beijing smart city database revealed.
The group also says there’s a lack of understanding about the project. It has been highlighting alleged discrepancies within government documents, especially those covering video surveillance equipment and devices used for determining location.

“The infrastructure of government planning should be fully open to the public in detail,” said an anonymous representative, stressing that the group consists of citizens who don’t represent all the protesters.
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zapjb · Aug 31, 2019

The Hong Kong people have heart. I wish them the best against the seemingly heartless mainland.

Minimalist · Aug 31, 2019

Why protests are becoming increasingly faceless

On a humid Sunday night in Hong Kong's financial district, hundreds of young people ready themselves for the latest protest.
Some wear flimsy medical masks and swimming goggles, others wear heavy-duty respirators and protective glasses. All are covering their faces to protect themselves not only from police tear gas -- but also to obscure their identities.
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https://edition.cnn.com/style/article/protest-design-future-intl-hnk/index.html

hawki · Aug 31, 2019

Minimalist said: ↑

Why protests are becoming increasingly faceless

https://edition.cnn.com/style/article/protest-design-future-intl-hnk/index.html
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Hong Kong Police are fighting back with low tech methods of identifying protesters.

"Hong Kong police are spraying protesters with blue-dye water cannons to mark them for arrest later..."

https://www.insider.com/hong-kong-police-fire-blue-dye-water-cannons-2019-8

guest · Aug 31, 2019

Massive cyberattack disrupts popular online forum used by Hong Kong protesters
August 31, 2019
https://www.ibtimes.sg/massive-cybe...orum-lihkg-used-by-hong-kong-protesters-32293

Hong Kong is making headlines almost every day and the world knows what the current situation is. But recently it was revealed that hackers have targeted a popular online forum which is used by protesters and hit its servers on Saturday.

In this case, a forum called LIHKG was used by the Hong Kong protesters to organize mass rallies in the city. But on Saturday the forum mentioned that its servers were hit maliciously by a large DDoS attack and such cyber attack they never encountered before.
Due to this DDoS attack, some LIHKG services were interrupted. While trying to access the forum it showed an error, even people are also talking about this issue on Twitter.

Earlier another cyber attack event was reported when the popular messaging service Telegram was hit by a powerful attack that was linked to China.
Click to expand...

Minimalist · Sep 1, 2019

Messaging app Telegram moves to protect identity of Hong Kong protesters

Telegram, a popular encrypted messaging app, will allow users to cloak their telephone numbers to safeguard Hong Kong protesters against monitoring by authorities, according to a person with direct knowledge of the effort.
Click to expand...

https://www.itnews.com.au/news/mess...otect-identity-of-hong-kong-protesters-530431

hawki · Sep 2, 2019

"Hong Kong Protestors Using Mesh Messaging App China Can't Block: Usage Up 3685%

How do you communicate when the government censors the internet? With a peer-to-peer mesh broadcasting network that doesn't use the internet.

That's exactly what Hong Kong pro-democracy protesters are doing now, thanks to San Fransisco startup Bridgefy's Bluetooth-based messaging app. The protesters can communicate with each other — and the public — using no persistent managed network...

The app can connect people via standard Bluetooth across an entire city, thanks to a mesh network...

Bridgefy downloads are up almost 4,000% over the past 60 days,..."

https://www.forbes.com/sites/johnko...-china-cant-block-usage-up-3685/#366ff11e135a

guest · Sep 4, 2019

Real-time maps warn Hong Kong protesters of water cannons and riot police
September 4, 2019
https://qz.com/1700205/real-time-maps-warn-hong-kong-protesters-of-poliec/

Citizen-led efforts to map protests in real-time are an attempt to address those challenges and answer some pressing questions for protesters and bystanders alike: Where should they go? Where have tear gas and water cannons been deployed?

One of the most widely used real-time maps of the protests is HKMap.live, a volunteer-run and crowdsourced effort that officially launched in early August. It’s a dynamic map of Hong Kong that users can zoom in and out of, much like Google Maps.
Founded by a finance professional in his 20s and who only wished to be identified as Kuma, HKMap is an attempt to level the playing field between protesters and officers, he said in an interview over chat app Telegram.

As a crowdsourced map, anyone can post time-stamped updates after logging in through a simple verification process via Telegram. A small team of moderators then fact check the post against live streams, news outlets, and administrators of other trusted Telegram groups.
Click to expand...

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