At the very beginning of this hearing, Chairman Adam Schiff provides demonstrations of the sophistication of techniques used in cyber warfare. It is a concern that these techniques would not be exposed if the Democratic leadership was not in place. Certainly, these techniques existed long before the past year when the Democrats earned a majority.
Dr. Jack Clark states it is important the Congress get on top of the issues beset the political environment because "...the PACE at which this capacity is evolving is troubling."
DARPA (Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency) (click here) Dr. David Doermann also states the speed at which this technology is taking place is alarming. The ability to end such manipulation is limited because the same technology used to create these problems are used to dismantle them. He states the problem is social as well as technological.
If this is as much a social issue, there need to be specific sites on the web where factual content is realized while disqualifying others. That is probably the only short term answer considering this is only beginning in a run up to 2020 elections. The sites will have to be established by trustworthy parties. I remember the 2016 elections and the attempt of the NSA to bring forth information important to the American electorate. The website(s) that would solve the problem in detecting the truth need to be based in National Intelligence. The watchdogs will come to the site to review the information for the truth so long a free and open media continues in the USA. It simply gives the NSA a place to post it's information and dispute other information. Such internet access by the NSA/FBI lacked in 2016 and they never achieved the attention of the USA.
Other laws and/or reforms need to continue to end the lying on the internet, except, for the candidates themselves.
Dr. Danielle Citron has a unique focus about the idea of "Deep Fake" in that it has certain characteristics that draw the viewer to the information, "novel and negative." She also said this content on the web is based in "Ad" technology that makes it easy to "click and share." In other words she is stating it is nearly easy to detect the lies and perhaps in extrapolation the liars, by examining the mechanism used to spread propaganda.
She not only states it may be easy to detect this technology used to spread propaganda, but, she sees legal solutions. She identifies the most vulnerable of a phenomenon known as "cyberstalking" being women and minorities. No doubt these techniques should be a target of additional legislation to end the capacity for it to happen.
What also impressed me about the testimony of these witnesses is their interest in preventing cyber warfare. Dr. Doermann stated what might be the most interesting of his comments, in that he believes any prevention measure has to be able to intercept "the beginning" of the false message. In making that statement Dr. Doermann must have measures in mind to enact such technology.
Ms. Citron also states legislating measures to end this assault on the USA's freedoms could also benefit Wall Street, ie: her example of a newly released IPO which is met immediately before with salacious information about the CEO which is false.
"Law, markets and societal resilience" focus including false impersonation as the basis of a lie. There is no doubt that existing laws can be beefed up to provide greater consequences for these illegal acts against freedom.
Mr. Clint Watts makes an interesting point in that the free world can expect more hostile cyber warfare by Russia, including escalating technology no doubt in research. He also believes China can outpace Russia in artificial intelligence. He believes China will continue to develop synthetic purveyors of media and false information. That should be simple to solve, the American people should be made aware of these acts by China and completely reject any synthetic media journalists. Here again, such synthetic figures should be detected, if not already occurring, by the NSA and posted to a website easily accessed for information regarding the truth.
Mr. Watts also carries the concerns of Dr. Doermann in that misinformation can cause irreparable damage to society and great harm should any form of violence break out because of misinformation and/or deceptive cyber content. Basically, these two men have identified the same danger to Americans while conducting work independently and separately. That has to be a focus of any efforts by Congress.
Ms. Citron and Mr. Watts share the same citations of violence that broke out in India after "Deep Fake" information. Mr. Watts also states a "honeypot" attack on "LinkedIn" is another concern. This has to stop. "LinkedIn?" OMG. The entire country uses "LinkedIn" for improvements in their job status. That is a direct attack on the basis of Americans' ability to seek a quality of life.
Mr. Watts states the Defense Department and State Department need to have protocols for adverse reactions to "Deep Fake" content on the web. I have a problem with that, in such actions have to be linked to FACTUAL information and official government priorities WARNING of such an action.
Such protocols MUST include state and local capacity to bring about calm such as emergency broadcasts calling for order and announcing the consequences. Such announcements have to be linked to hand held devices as a means of reaching as many people as possible in a short period of time.
Such protocols when perfected can be applied to international populations of Americans as well. Such protocols can help other countries develop their own protocols to bring about calm after a "Deep Fake" on the internet. Basically, internationally the USA should be helpful as well as protective of Americans.
The panel in general seeks to inform the public and in the short term that seems most effective, however, none of the panel members believe a relationship with the public is the only capacity that has to change.
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