Today, the United States Department of Justice indicted five Chinese military officers related to alleged cyber espionage against U.S. companies. At the same time, John T. Chambers, Chairman and CEO of Cisco Systems, sent a letter to President Obama arguing that NSA efforts to undermine global Internet security undermine the future of the Internet and the United States’ … [Read more...] about Implications of U.S. Indictment of Chinese Officers for Cyber Espionage
Next Moves in the Battle Over Domestic Drones
There have been a number of important new developments in the battle over domestic drones in the United States this week, many of which lend support to the concerns that I have raised in my last two posts. First, the FAA has confirmed this week that it is launching an official investigation into the use of a drone, in this case a small, multirotor aircraft, over the 4/20 rally … [Read more...] about Next Moves in the Battle Over Domestic Drones
Domestic “Drones” Are the Latest Object of Threat Inflation
Recently, several news outlets reported on a supposed plot by a Moroccan national to use remote controlled model airplanes as flying bombs. The story seems to lend credibility to speculation that model airplanes could be the next terrorist threat. In reality, however, these fears are part of a larger pattern of threat inflation about domestic “drones” that mirrors the kind of … [Read more...] about Domestic “Drones” Are the Latest Object of Threat Inflation
Drone Strikes and the Lessons of Nonlinear Science
The use of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), or drones, to carry out targeted killings of suspected terrorist leaders has become a centerpiece of the United States’ global counter-terrorism strategy. Each new report of a strike in Pakistan, Yemen, or Somalia provides new fodder to critics, who point to civilian casualties and the resulting anger at the United States as evidence … [Read more...] about Drone Strikes and the Lessons of Nonlinear Science
Overheated Rhetoric Undermines The Case For Syria Cyber Attacks
In the lead-up to possible airstrikes against Syria, a contradiction has emerged in the U.S. public policy debate about the prospective uses and impacts of cyber weapons. The use of such weapons against the United States is portrayed as potentially catastrophic and as an act of war. Used against a potential adversary, the same weapons are portrayed as a bloodless alternative to … [Read more...] about Overheated Rhetoric Undermines The Case For Syria Cyber Attacks