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‘Letter to America’: TikTok breaks silence on viral Osama bin Laden videos

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  • TikTok to prohibit videos promoting OBL’s ‘Letter to America’.
  • US lawmakers demand ban on Chinese app.
  • The Guardian removes article from website.

TikTok will prohibit content that promotes Osama bin Laden’s 2002 letter detailing the former al Qaeda leader’s justifications for attacks against Americans, the short-form video app said on Thursday.

Discussions of the 20-year-old letter have spread on the platform this week in the context of debate over the Israel-Hamas war, with some users in the West praising its contents.

The letter, which was written after al Qaeda’s attack on the United States that killed nearly 3,000 people, criticised US support for Israel, accused Americans of financing “oppression” of Palestinians, and contained antisemitic comments.

Bin Laden was killed in 2011 in Pakistan by a US military special operations unit.

“Content promoting this letter clearly violates our rules on supporting any form of terrorism,” TikTok said in a statement, adding that reports that it was “trending” on the platform were inaccurate.

A search for “Letter to America” on TikTok surfaced no results on Thursday, with a notice that said the phrase may be associated with “content that violates our guidelines.”

Some US lawmakers have called for a ban of the Chinese-owned app and had renewed their criticisms before Thursday’s announcement.

Democratic Representative Josh Gottheimer said on Wednesday on X, formerly Twitter, that TikTok was “pushing pro-terrorist propaganda to influence Americans.”

White House spokesperson Andrew Bates said in a statement on Thursday: “There is never a justification for spreading the repugnant, evil, and antisemitic lies that the leader of al Qaeda issued just after committing the worst terrorist attack in American history.”

On Wednesday, The Guardian removed the full text of bin Laden’s letter, which it had published in 2002. The news outlet said on its website that the letter was being shared on social media without full context, and that it would instead direct readers to the news article that originally reported on the letter.

TikTok said previously its recommendation algorithm does not push certain content to users, and that the company has removed hundreds of thousands of videos since Oct. 7 for violating policies against misinformation and promotion of violence.

It is difficult to gain a full understanding of how prevalent certain content is on TikTok, partly because external researchers have limited access to its data, said Renee DiResta, a research manager at Stanford Internet Observatory. 

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Pakistan declares AI chatbots to be dangers to security.

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The National Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT) has released a security advisory concerning the increasing utilization of artificial intelligence (AI) chatbots, emphasizing potential hazards related to the exposing of private data.

The recommendation recognizes that AI chatbots, like ChatGPT, have gained significant popularity for personal and professional duties owing to their capacity to improve productivity and engagement. Nonetheless, the CERT cautions that these AI systems frequently retain sensitive information, so posing a danger of data breaches.

Engagements with AI chatbots may encompass sensitive information, such as corporate strategy, personal dialogues, or confidential correspondence, which could be compromised if inadequately safeguarded. The warning emphasizes the necessity for a comprehensive cybersecurity framework to alleviate concerns associated with AI chatbot utilization.

Users are advised against inputting critical information into AI chatbots and are encouraged to deactivate any chat-saving functionalities to mitigate the danger of unwanted data access. The CERT additionally advises performing routine system security checks and employing monitoring tools to identify any anomalous behavior from AI chatbots.

Organizations are urged to adopt rigorous security protocols to safeguard against possible data breaches resulting from AI-driven interactions.

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Unlawful VPNs: Terrorists Utilize Unregistered VPNs to Disseminate Propaganda

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Terrorists utilize illicit VPNs to disseminate propaganda and misinformation while concealing their identities.

Several accounts have been uncovered and are under investigation.

The cessation of non-registered VPNs is crucial for the nation’s economy.

The PTA is blocking illegal URLs and websites disseminating objectionable material upon verification.

Forensic investigations of websites have yielded startling results.

Disseminating erroneous information is more facile using unregistered VPNs.

Terrorists were exploiting these unverified VPNs.

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Air University Holds A Revolutionary Event For Students Focusing On Cybersecurity

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Air Marshal (R) Asad Lodhi has praised the Pakistan Cyber Security Challenge, an initiative by the Air University and Higher Education Commission that aims to train future cyber security experts and pioneers. At the opening ceremony of the two-day Pakistan Cyber Security Challenge, which took place at Air University in Islamabad, he was the chief guest.
Showdown challenges, the Ideas Cup, and the Pakistan Crypt Challenge are all part of the Pakistan Cyber Security Challenge, which lasts for two days.

Air Marshal (R) Abdul Moeed Khan, VC of Air University, made a speech praising the cyber security abilities of Pakistani youth, saying that they are among the best in the world and will help the country face cyber threats. A haven for cyber security excellence, he said, Pakistan Cyber Security Challenge 2024. Additionally, he praised the Air University for its innovative and outstanding work in this area.
At the inaugural ceremony of the Pakistan Cyber Security Challenge, Dr. Zia Ul Qayyum, executive director of the Higher Education Commission, also spoke to the crowd. He discussed how HEC has created a welcoming atmosphere and helped facilitate projects such as the Pakistan Cyber Security Challenge.
As part of the inauguration event, an MoU was also signed. Guests and participants were given souvenirs as the opening ceremony came to a close.

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