Latest news with #covertOperations
Wall Street Journal
12 hours ago
- Politics
- Wall Street Journal
Why Countries Are Suddenly Broadcasting Their Spies' Exploits
Israel's airstrikes on Iran exploded across the world's screens as a public display of military firepower. Underpinning that was a less visible but equally vital Israeli covert operation that pinpointed targets, guided the attacks and struck Iran from within. Agents from Israel's spy agency, Mossad, operated inside Iran before and during the initial attacks earlier this month, Israeli officials said. The disclosure was itself an act of psychological warfare—a boast of Israel's ability to act with impunity inside Iran's borders and Tehran's failure to stop it.
Free Malaysia Today
08-06-2025
- Politics
- Free Malaysia Today
Iran says it has obtained ‘sensitive' Israeli intelligence
The report comes amid ongoing tensions surrounding Iran's nuclear programme. (AFP pic) TEHRAN : Iranian state television reported today that Tehran had obtained a trove of 'strategic and sensitive' Israeli intelligence, including files related to Israel's nuclear facilities and defence plans. 'Iran's intelligence apparatus has obtained a vast quantity of strategic and sensitive information and documents belonging to the Zionist regime (Israel),' the state broadcaster said, citing informed regional sources. The report did not include any details on the documents or how Iran had obtained them. The intelligence reportedly included 'thousands of documents related to that regime's nuclear plans and facilities', it added. Iranian intelligence agencies and other state media did not immediately comment on the report. According to state television, 'the data haul was extracted during a covert operation', and included a 'vast volume of materials – including documents, images, and videos'. The report said the data was thoroughly reviewed by Iranian authorities after being securely transferred to the country. Iran and Israel have waged a years-long campaign of covert and overt operations against each other, ranging from cyberattacks and assassinations to drone strikes and acts of sabotage. Tehran accuses Israel of orchestrating the killings of several of its nuclear scientists, while Israel has blamed Iran for supporting rebel groups across the region and targeting Israeli interests abroad. Western countries, led by the US and Israel, Iran's sworn enemy and considered by experts to be the only nuclear power in the Middle East, accuse Tehran of wanting to acquire nuclear weapons. Iran denies having such military ambitions but insists on its right to civilian nuclear power under the Non-Proliferation Treaty, to which it is a signatory. The report comes amid ongoing tensions surrounding Iran's nuclear programme, which Israeli leaders view as an existential threat. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has consistently expressed support for bombing Iran's nuclear infrastructure. Last year, tensions between the two foes reached an all-time high as they exchanged direct fire amid Israel's ongoing war in Gaza. Iran, which has made support for the Palestinian cause a key tenet of its foreign policy since the 1979 revolution, does not recognise Israel.
Al Arabiya
07-06-2025
- Politics
- Al Arabiya
Iran obtained ‘sensitive' Israeli intelligence: State TV
Iranian state television reported on Saturday that Tehran had obtained a trove of 'strategic and sensitive' Israeli intelligence, including files related to Israel's nuclear facilities and defense plans. 'Iran's intelligence apparatus has obtained a vast quantity of strategic and sensitive information and documents belonging to the Zionist regime (Israel),' the state broadcaster said, citing informed regional sources. The report did not include any details on the documents or how Iran had obtained them. The intelligence reportedly included 'thousands of documents related to that regime's nuclear plans and facilities,' it added. Iranian intelligence agencies and other state media did not immediately comment on the report. According to state television, 'the data haul was extracted during a covert operation,' and included a 'vast volume of materials -- including documents, images, and videos.' The report said the data was thoroughly reviewed by Iranian authorities after being securely transferred to the country. Iran and Israel have waged a years-long campaign of covert and overt operations against each other, ranging from cyberattacks and assassinations to drone strikes and acts of sabotage. Tehran accuses Israel of orchestrating the killings of several of its nuclear scientists, while Israel has blamed Iran for supporting militant groups across the region and targeting Israeli interests abroad. Western countries, led by the United States and Israel, Iran's sworn enemy and considered by experts to be the only nuclear power in the Middle East, accuse Tehran of wanting to acquire nuclear weapons. Iran denies having such military ambitions but insists on its right to civilian nuclear power under the Non-Proliferation Treaty, to which it is a signatory. The report comes amid ongoing tensions surrounding Iran's nuclear program, which Israeli leaders view as an existential threat. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has consistently expressed support for bombing Iran's nuclear infrastructure. Last year, tensions between the two foes reached an all-time high as they exchanged direct fire amid Israel's ongoing war in Gaza. Iran, which has made support for the Palestinian cause a key tenet of its foreign policy since the 1979 revolution, does not recognize Israel.
Globe and Mail
05-06-2025
- Politics
- Globe and Mail
More Chinese groups using ChatGPT for covert operations, OpenAI says
OpenAI is seeing an increasing number of Chinese groups using its artificial intelligence technology for covert operations, which the ChatGPT maker described in a report released Thursday. While the scope and tactics employed by these groups have expanded, the operations detected were generally small in scale and targeted limited audiences, the San Francisco-based startup said. Since ChatGPT burst onto the scene in late 2022, there have been concerns about the potential consequences of generative AI technology, which can quickly and easily produce human-like text, imagery and audio. Data centres are popping up everywhere, but a jobs boom is unlikely Tech journalist Karen Hao takes aim at Sam Altman's OpenAI 'empire' OpenAI regularly releases reports on malicious activity it detects on its platform, such as creating and debugging malware, or generating fake content for websites and social media platforms. In one example, OpenAI banned ChatGPT accounts that generated social media posts on political and geopolitical topics relevant to China, including criticism of a Taiwan-centric video game, false accusations against a Pakistani activist and content related to the closure of USAID. Some content also criticized U.S. President Donald Trump's sweeping tariffs, generating X posts such as 'Tariffs make imported goods outrageously expensive, yet the government splurges on overseas aid. Who's supposed to keep eating?' In another example, China-linked threat actors used AI to support various phases of their cyber operations, including open-source research, script modification, troubleshooting system configurations and development of tools for password brute forcing and social media automation. A third example that OpenAI found was a China-origin influence operation that generated polarized social media content supporting both sides of divisive topics within U.S. political discourse, including text and AI-generated profile images. China's Foreign Ministry did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment on OpenAI's findings. OpenAI has cemented its position as one of the world's most valuable private companies after announcing a US$40-billion funding round valuing the company at US$300-billion.
