California Bans 'Secret' Election Bots

Uploaded on 2018-10-10 in TECHNOLOGY-Key Areas-Social Media, NEWS-Cybersecurity News, GOVERNMENT-Local, FREE TO VIEW

California has signed into law a new piece of legislation which bans the use of undeclared bots during elections. Bots are automated online accounts which can be programmed to find and share information based around key words, themes or people.
 
The new rule also applies at all times to bots used for sales purposes unless they are very clear about their identity.
 
But one expert warned it could prove difficult to enforce.
 
Russian-controlled bots were found to be very active on Twitter during the 2016 US presidential election, the firm has said.
 
They retweeted Donald Trump's tweets 470,000 times, and Hillary Clinton's fewer than 50,000 times, the social network told Congress earlier this year.
 
The new bill will come into force on 1 July 2019 after being signed by California governor Jerry Brown.
 
"This bill would, with certain exceptions, make it unlawful for any person to use a bot to communicate or interact with another person in California online with the intent to mislead the other person about its artificial identity for the purpose of knowingly deceiving the person about the content of the communication in order to incentivise a purchase or sale of goods or services in a commercial transaction or to influence a vote in an election," the document reads.
 
"It's a very useful rule but it might become an arms race - can you catch them?" said Prof Ralph Schroeder from the Oxford Internet Institute.
 
"They will have to decide whether to pursue someone, and at that stage it becomes difficult because bots are difficult to trace. 
 
"It also raises further questions about whether there are also positive bots and they get caught up in all this." 
 
Twitter has also announced an update in its work on its "election integrity" project, ahead of the US mid-term elections in November. These include updating its rules regarding fake accounts and sharing stolen information. It said it would now take into account stock avatar photos and copied profile bios in determining whether an account is genuine.
 
BBC:
 
You Might Also Read:
 
Will Russian Hackers Affect this Year's US Election?
« Massive Facebook Hack Exploited Critical Bugs
Secret Military Technology Now On Your Smartphone »

CyberSecurity Jobsite
Perimeter 81
Cyrin

Real Attacks. Real Tools. Real Scenarios.
Schedule a demo

Go Cyber

Training that transforms behaviours

Sign Up: Cyber Security Intelligence Newsletter

Directory of Suppliers

Authentic8

Authentic8

Authentic8 transforms how organizations secure and control the use of the web with Silo, its patented cloud browser.

The PC Support Group

The PC Support Group

A partnership with The PC Support Group delivers improved productivity, reduced costs and protects your business through exceptional IT, telecoms and cybersecurity services.

XYPRO Technology

XYPRO Technology

XYPRO is the market leader in HPE Non-Stop Security, Risk Management and Compliance.

Syxsense

Syxsense

Syxsense brings together endpoint management and security for greater efficiency and collaboration between IT management and security teams.

ZenGRC

ZenGRC

ZenGRC - the first, easy-to-use, enterprise-grade information security solution for compliance and risk management - offers businesses efficient control tracking, testing, and enforcement.

National Information Security & Safety Authority (NISSA) - Libya

National Information Security & Safety Authority (NISSA) - Libya

NISSA is responsible for safeguarding the integrity, availability and resilienceof ICT infrastructure, resources, services and data in Libya.

Cyber Threat Intelligence Network (CTIN)

Cyber Threat Intelligence Network (CTIN)

CTIN provides cyber threat intelligence services including training, platform evaluation, ISAC/ISAO systems development and counter botnet operations.

Fraunhofer Institute for Secure Information Technology (SIT)

Fraunhofer Institute for Secure Information Technology (SIT)

Fraunhofer SIT is a research centre specialising in all areas of IT security.

Real Random

Real Random

Real Random is on a mission to enhance existing and new crypto-systems with its revolutionary solution to generating numbers that are Truly Random.

Ritz

Ritz

Ritz is the largest holistic pure-play cyber security solutions provider in Myanmar.

Cyber Security Supplier Directory

Cyber Security Supplier Directory

Our Supplier Directory lists 6,000+ specialist cyber security service providers in 128 countries worldwide. IS YOUR ORGANISATION LISTED?

DataPassports

DataPassports

DataPassports is a data-centric security and privacy solution that enforces privacy and security from end-to-end with transparent protection of data at the source.

Terra Quantum

Terra Quantum

Terra Quantum is a deep tech pioneer, developing revolutionary quantum applications to shape the technology of the future.

MailChannels

MailChannels

MailChannels protects companies against malicious email threats. Used by 750+ hosting providers around the world.

Auriga

Auriga

Auriga create innovative software and have become a benchmark for high quality banking software including cyber security solutions to protect business critical devices.

Snare

Snare

Snare is a comprehensive set of event monitoring and analysis tools designed to address critical auditing and security requirements.

NetRise

NetRise

NetRise was founded as a direct result of the many shortcomings currently in the device security market, specifically targeting the firmware of devices.

iNovex

iNovex

iNovex is a community of innovators that work together to solve hard problems. We partner with you to meet problems head-on and push boundaries with technology solutions.

Epic Machines

Epic Machines

Epic Machines is a Value Added Reseller and Managed Security Services provider offering Security Transformation using Cloud-native solutions to commercial and government markets.

Netcraft

Netcraft

Netcraft is a global leader in cybercrime detection and disruption, combining cutting-edge technology with decades of experience to protect organizations of all sizes from digital threats and attacks.

ELK Analytics

ELK Analytics

ELK Analytics is a specialized Managed Security Services Provider (MSSP) that focuses on endpoint security and monitoring & alerting for any type of structured or unstructured data.