Authoritarian Governments Are Breaking Up With Video Games
Both the PRC and Russia are increasingly hostile to video games. The OSIRIS Codex has already written about how the PRC is functionally banning video games, and we are starting to see some effects from that ban. The maker of Genshin Impact, based in the PRC, has begun to censor its female characters seemingly at the behest of government regulators. In a signal of what may come, the Chinese megacorp, Tencent, liquidated its $3 billion share in a Singaporean video game company. In Russia, state-run media Pravda is blaming video games for the unrest in Kazakhstan.
Both the PRC and Russian governments seem to view video games as a threat to government control. China’s justifications for video game crackdowns have so far focused on video games’ supposedly “corrupting” young people. Russian objections seem to focus more on foreign interference. It is conceivable that the PRC leadership and Putin are just stodgy old men who don’t like newfangled video games, but there is little evidence either set of claims is true.
Rising hostility toward video games, by authoritarian governments poses a challenge to authoritarian governments and creates an opportunity for democratic markets. Before the ban, PRC-based companies were making serious inroads into the global video game market. As authoritarian governments crackdown on video game companies, companies in democratic countries have less competition. Democratic government becomes an attraction for the many people who enjoy playing video games.
Google Chrome Had Security Problems
Google Chrome had a bad week on the security front. Researchers revealed several dozen vulnerabilities that could allow a hacker to take over a computer. Google had already released a patch for the vulnerabilities at the time of the disclosure. Download and install the latest version of Chrome immediately to patch the vulnerability.
Although the Chrome vulnerability is not as bad as the vulnerabilities in Log4J, vulnerabilities in browsers can be huge problems. Chrome is the most popular browser, and consequently weaknesses in Chrome affect many people. Popularity is a two-edged sword that raises the stakes of any cybersecurity vulnerability. Google has the resources to find and fix vulnerabilities, hopefully before hackers do, which is part of the reason Chrome has risen to dominate the browser market. Unfortunately, many users will remain vulnerable because they do not regularly update. To avoid update problems, enable auto updating so updates will install automatically without you needing to know when updates get released, and install them.
Be Careful On Telegram
At least one Advanced Persistent Threat (APT) is using a legitimate installation file to install malware onto victims’ computers. Telegram is a popular messaging platform many consider to be secure, although there have always been weaknesses in Telegram’s security. The reputation for privacy makes Telegram a popular platform for groups wishing to avoid surveillance. Governments naturally want to observe some groups that want to avoid surveillance, thus making Telegram a target for government surveillance.
There are legitimate reasons people want privacy, and unfortunately robust privacy policies draw unwanted attention to platforms like Telegram. Governments’ desire to surveil Telegram sometimes stems from valid security concerns, such as the real threat Al Qa’ida in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) poses. This particular attack primarily leverages individuals’ security concerns to deliver control over a computer. If you want more secure text messaging, I recommend Signal.
Noteworthy
Instagram and Teens: A Quick Guide for Parents to Keep Their Kids Safe by Owaida
Do Confidentiality Laws Undermine Cybersecurity? by Schwarcz, Wolff, & Woods
David Benson is a Professor of Strategy and National Security focusing on cyberstrategy and international relations. You can reach him at dbenson@osiriscodex.com.
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