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Russia Is Relying On Unwitting Americans To Spread Election Disinformation, US Officials Say

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Russia | AP News Image

RUSSIA | Amazon is liable under federal safety legislation for dangerous products offered on its site by third-party vendors and distributed by the corporation, a US government body said Tuesday.

The Consumer Product Safety Commission unanimously concluded that the e-commerce company was a “distributor” of faulty items sold on its website and packed and dispatched through its fulfilment service.

According to the agency, the corporation is legally responsible for the recalls of over 400,000 devices, including hairdryers and defective carbon monoxide detectors. It directed Amazon to develop a system for notifying customers who purchased defective items and removing the objects from circulation by creating incentives for their return or destruction.

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Russia | CNET

Russia Is Relying On Unwitting Americans To Spread Election Disinformation, US Officials Say

According to Emarketer, Amazon accounts for around 40% of all e-commerce sales in the United States. The company offers various things directly to customers and also works with roughly 2 million third-party sellers, who account for the majority of sales on the site.

The online shop has been fighting the “distributor” classification since 2021 when the Consumer Product Safety Commission filed an administrative complaint against it for delivering hazardous products.

Amazon argued to an administrative law judge and a five-member commission that it should not be classed as a distributor under the Consumer Product Safety Act. The commission stated that the judge rejected the company’s argument, and Tuesday’s decree affirmed that decision.

According to the commission, Amazon neglected to tell customers about hazardous materials and “did not take adequate steps to encourage” users to return or destroy them, putting them at risk of harm.

Groups tied to the Kremlin increasingly use Russian-based marketing and communications firms to outsource some of the labour of developing digital propaganda while also masking their tracks, authorities said during a press briefing.

In March, the United States issued fresh sanctions against two of these corporations. According to authorities, the two Russian businesses constructed phony websites and social media profiles to promote Kremlin disinformation.

The disinformation can focus on the candidates or the voting process, or on problems that are already being debated in the United States, such as immigration, crime, or the Gaza conflict.

The ultimate goal is for Americans to share Russian disinformation without investigating its source. People are significantly more likely to trust and share information they feel came from a domestic source, according to officials. Fake websites that replicate U.S. news outlets and AI-generated social media profiles are only two examples.

In certain situations, Americans, as well as American tech businesses and media outlets, have willingly amplified and repeated Kremlin messaging.

“Foreign influence actors are getting better at hiding their hand and convincing Americans to do it,” said the official, who was joined by officials from the FBI and the Department of Homeland Security.

Sen. Mark Warner, the head of the Senate Intelligence Committee, expressed concern last month that the United States may be more vulnerable to foreign disinformation this year than it was before to the 2020 election. On Monday, he stated that intelligence agencies’ warnings reveal that the US election is “in the bullseye of bad actors across the globe.”

“It also, disturbingly, emphasises the extent to which foreign actors — and particularly Russia — rely on both unwitting and witting Americans to promote foreign-aligned narratives in the United States,” Warner, a Democratic senator from Virginia, said in a statement.

In one measure of the threat, officials monitoring foreign disinformation report that they have given twice as many warnings to political candidates, government leaders, election offices, and others targeted by foreign groups in the 2024 election cycle as they did in the 2022 cycle.

Officials would not say how many warnings were provided or who received them, but say the considerable increase reflects increased interest in the presidential race by America’s foes, as well as improved government efforts to identify and warn of such dangers.

The warnings are issued so that the targets can take precautions and, if necessary, correct the record.

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Russia | NPR

Russia Is Relying On Unwitting Americans To Spread Election Disinformation, US Officials Say

Russia and other countries are also fast shifting to capitalise on recent developments in the presidential election, like as the attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump and President Joe Biden’s decision to withdraw from the race in favour of Vice President Kamala Harris.

Following the attack on Trump, Russian disinformation services swiftly pushed accusations that Democratic rhetoric caused the shooting, as well as unfounded conspiracy theories claiming that Biden or the Ukrainian government coordinated the effort.

“These pro-Russian voices sought to tie the assassination attempt with Russia’s continuing war against Ukraine,” concluded the Atlantic Council’s Digital Forensic Research Lab, which monitors Russian misinformation.

Intelligence officials have previously assessed that Russian propaganda appeared to be intended to support Trump, and they stated Monday that their conclusion has not changed.

Russian disinformation continues to focus on eroding support for Ukraine, while Trump has previously lauded Russian President Vladimir Putin and is perceived to be less supportive of NATO.

While China launched a massive disinformation effort ahead of Taiwan’s last election, the country has been far more cautious when it comes to the United States. Beijing may employ disinformation to target congressional campaigns or other down-ballot races where a candidate has expressed strong views about China. However, authorities suggested Monday that China is unlikely to try to influence the presidential race.

The Chinese ambassador to the United States, Xie Feng, stated on Monday that his country has no intention of interfering with US politics.

However, Iran has adopted a more assertive stance. Avril Haines, Director of National Intelligence, stated earlier this month that the Iranian government had surreptitiously sponsored American protests against Israel’s war on Hamas in Gaza. According to Haines, Iran-linked groups have posed as online activists, supported protests, and provided financial support to some protest groups.

Iran opposes candidates who are likely to exacerbate tensions with Tehran, authorities added. That description suits Trump’s government, which terminated a nuclear agreement with Iran, reimposed sanctions, and ordered the assassination of a senior Iranian commander.

Messages left with Russian and Iranian government spokespeople were not returned promptly on Monday.

SOURCE | AP

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Macron of France Greets Donald Trump at a Grand Presidential Reception in Paris.

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Aurelien Morissard/AP

(VOR News) – French President Emmanuel Macron greeted Donald Trump to Paris on Saturday with presidential grandeur following a four-year hiatus.

Claiming to be in a “a little crazy” world as they met one-on-one before Notre Dame Cathedral’s reopening five years following a catastrophic fire, Donald Trump, the future president, said.

As Trump arrived at the Elysee Palace, the official house of the French president, Macron extended numerous handshakes and back-patted him. Declaring it “a great honour,” Donald Trump hailed their “great relationship.”

As they met one-on-one before Notre Dame Cathedral reopened five years following a catastrophic fire, Trump suggested the two would talk about a “a little crazy” world.

Like the French do for sitting American presidents, the palace spread out a red carpet. Trump noted before he came in, “The world feels wild right now.” We will explore that.

Accepting the Paris invitation, Donald Trump asserted Macron had done “a wonderful job ensuring that Notre Dame has been restored to its full glory, and even more so”. Today will be unique for each of us! A 2019 fire almost destroyed the 861-year-old monument.

More than 20 French government security agents were guarding Trump alongside the Secret Service, according to the French national police. Trump’s procession was guarded from drones by a specially equipped French police truck.

Scores of international VIPs were expected at the Notre Dame reopening, hence security was more rigorous than usual outside the U.S. Embassy and other Paris sites.

Despite Donald Trump’s loss last month, Macron has tried to repair his relationship.

Macron’s staff minimised the offer, citing invitations to other former leaders.

Declaring Trump invited as president-elect of a “friendly nation,” Macron’s office added, “This is in no way exceptional. We’ve done it before.”

Red carpet treatment by Macron and other European leaders revealed their aim to placate Trump prior to his inauguration. Trump enjoys pomp and spectacle. During his first tenure as president, he paid Paris a guest of honour visit for Bastille Day events. Macron Later on, Trump insisted he wanted a US large military exhibition.

Democratic President Joe Biden is also invited but won not be present. White House communications secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said first lady Jill Biden will represent the US due to a scheduling issue.

Trump last visited Jill Biden at the White House for the customary farewell-incoming president’s conference following the election.

During Donald Trump trip to France, Macron and other European leaders are trying to convince him to help Ukraine fight Russia’s intrusion. According to Macron’s office, Macron and Donald Trump would discuss Middle East conflicts as well as others.

Prince William and Jill Biden will meet prior to Notre Dame, according to the British royal house.

Macron would meet Volodymyr Zelenskyy, President of Ukraine. It depends on whether Trump meets Zelenskyy. Future conversations worry Kyiv as Trump has vowed to swiftly stop the war on Ukraine but has not said how.

On a two-day trip earlier this week, Zelenskyy’s top advisor Andriy Yermak visited important Donald Trump team members to build confidence in the incoming government. Requesting anonymity, a senior Ukrainian official hailed the discussions as successful but omitted specifics.

Under Donald Trump’s first term, France-US relations deteriorated.

Trump paid many trips to France and introduced Macron at his first state dinner. Macron attacked Trump for challenging NATO’s necessity and America’s dedication to the mutual defence agreement, therefore endangering the alliance.

If France taxed American businesses during the 2024 presidential campaign, Trump often mimicked Macron’s accent and threatened to levy high taxes on wine and champagne bottles shipped to the U.S.

Among the first international leaders to congratulate Trump last month was Macron. Noted for its stained glass, the Notre Dame fire destroyed its spire in 2019, endangering one of the most iconic architectural sites worldwide. At the time Trump was president.

“So horrible to watch the massive fire at Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris,” he wrote, counselling Paris. “Perhaps flying water tanks could help eradicate it. Be fast!” he advised.

Shortly afterwards, French officials reported that “all means” were being employed to put out the flames, “except water-bombing aircrafts which, if used, could lead to the collapse of the entire structure of the cathedral.”

Last weekend, Trump declared he would name Jared Kushner’s father, Charles Kushner, ambassador to France. Pioneers in such a great role were Franklin and Jefferson.

SOURCE: NPR

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Elon Musk Expended Over $260 Million To Facilitate The Election Of Donald Trump.

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Elon Musk Expended Over $260 Million To Facilitate The Election Of Donald Trump.

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Elon Musk
Reuters

(VOR News) – Elon Musk, the wealthiest man in the world, is said to have made a significant contribution to the re-election campaign of Donald Trump, President-elect of the United States of America, in the year 2024.

This information has been reported. Specifically, the information in question was collected from the Federal Election Commission by means of their most current filings.

More than $259 million was contributed by Elon Musk to the campaign of Donald Trump, which he subsequently used to support his own campaign.

Elon Musk contributed a total of $269.

The Chief Executive Officer of Tesla and the owner of SpaceX is now in the position of being one of the top donors in the history of a presidential campaign in the United States.

This is due to the massive financial support that has been provided to him. Consequently, this contributes to the strengthening of his power in the area of the Republican Party. One of the corporations that own Tesla is SpaceX, which is a corporation.

There was a contribution of two hundred and thirty-nine million dollars made by Elon Musk to America PAC, which is a super PAC that he founded with the goal of assisting in the mobilisation of votes in support of Trump. This represents a big new development that has taken place.

RBG PAC is an organisation that makes an effort to persuade voters that President Trump, who is 78 years old, would not sign into law a national abortion ban. It is alleged that Musk, who is 53 years old, contributed an additional twenty million dollars to RBG PAC.

There is strong suspicion that Elon Musk made this financial contribution to RBG PAC. As can be seen from the documentation that was handed over to the Federal Election Commission (FEC), Elon Musk was the one who made this donation.

This organisation got its name from the late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, who was well-known for her advocacy of abortion rights. Ginsburg was the inspiration behind the name of this organisation. In addition to being a well-known liberal personality, Ginsburg was also well-known for her advocacy of the right to abortion.

Ginsburg was a significant figure in the feminist community and a prominent member of the liberal community.

In addition to being the owner of the social networking platform known as X, Elon Musk has emerged as a prominent counsellor to the transition team that Trump has gathered. This is a significant development.

The platform’s owner is Elon Musk, so keep that in mind.

Trump has nominated him, together with Vivek Ramaswamy, a former candidate for the Republican presidential nomination and an entrepreneur, to lead a task group that will strive to minimise the amount of money that the government spends and the number of rules that it imposes. Ramaswamy is also an entrepreneur.

Ramaswamy is also an entrepreneur in his way. In his own way, Ramaswamy is likewise recognised as an entrepreneur.

Thursday was the day that Elon Musk and Ramaswamy met with senators on Capitol Hill in an effort to obtain the significant cutbacks in expenses that Trump has asked.

The gathering was held on Thursday of this week. On the other hand, in order for them to be successful in their ambitions, they will want the support of these politicians.

These two individuals have not only advocated for the termination of thousands of federal employees, but they have also battled for the reduction of regulations and the elimination of programs that have had their authorisation revoked, such as healthcare for veterans. In addition to this, they have campaigned for the dismissal of all employees and employees of the government.

At the Mar-a-Lago residence in Florida, where the president-elect has been residing during the transition, Musk has been a frequent visitor and a close confidante of Trump.

Musk has attended the residence on multiple occasions. Many times, Elon Musk has been seen on the premises of the mansion. In addition to that, Musk has been a frequent visitor to the home on a number of occasions.

SOURCE: TN

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The US Court of Appeals Affirms the TikTok Ban While Dismissing a Free Speech Challenge.

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The US Court of Appeals Affirms the TikTok Ban While Dismissing a Free Speech Challenge.

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TikTok
PHOTO: PEXELS

(VOR News) – A federal appeals court dismissed TikTok’s assertion that the crackdown infringes upon the free expression rights of millions of Americans on Friday.

The court affirmed a statute that would ban the viral video application from usage nationwide unless its Chinese parent company divested from it.

The court’s verdict led the president and Congress to determine that TikTok’s “expansive reach” necessitated its divestiture from Chinese ownership, which is “essential to protecting our national security.”

The court’s ruling indicates that TikTok’s ownership by the Chinese corporation ByteDance poses a greater national security threat than the issues related to free expression associated with TikTok.

In the United States, the First Amendment safeguards the right to free expression. The official court acknowledged that the government acted to safeguard this freedom from a foreign adversary and to restrict that adversary’s ability to acquire information about American citizens.

TikTok critics include the Knight First Amendment Institute at Columbia University.

“This ruling is fundamentally flawed, interpreting significant First Amendment precedents too restrictively and granting the government extensive authority to limit Americans’ access to foreign information, ideas, and media,” stated Jameel Jaffer, the executive director of the organization.

“This decision is fundamentally erroneous.” “We anticipate that the appellate court’s decision will not be final.”

The decision issued by the three-judge panel of the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit was a notable triumph for the administration of Vice President Joe Biden; yet, it concurrently places TikTok in a precarious position.

Donald Trump, the future president, has pledged to guarantee the continued existence of TikTok. Nonetheless, that may be construed to signify a multitude of alternative interpretations.

According to the law, TikTok faces a potential ban throughout the state unless it divests from its Beijing-based parent company, ByteDance, by January 19th.

The deadline may be prolonged by ninety days if “significant progress” is made towards finalising a sale. Consequently, one possibility is that Trump may seek to negotiate an agreement for the app to be held by an American entity or consortium of investors, while concurrently postponing the implementation date.

Notwithstanding China’s enduring opposition to the compelled divestiture of the application, analysts contend that Chinese authorities may want to auction TikTok to enhance their bargaining position in trade discussions with President Trump’s new administration.

Notwithstanding this, TikTok maintains that it is not available for acquisition from any third party.

TikTok’s initiatives to separate itself from ByteDance, exemplified by Project Texas, which seeks to segregate American data from China, represent divestiture, and Trump possesses the authority to assert that these initiatives qualify as divestiture. Furthermore, Trump may instruct his attorney general to abstain from enforcing the law.

Merely disabling TikTok is inadequate to preclude its utilisation. The regulation targets app stores operated by Google and Apple, leading to the removal of TikTok from their platforms by the digital giants.

Moreover, TikTok cannot be endorsed by web hosting companies.

Neither Apple nor Google has issued any statements concerning their possible reactions to the legislation. Moreover, given that Trump has expressed his intention to maintain the application despite an impending court-imposed deadline, it remains unclear what precise measures web-hosting companies would undertake.

TikTok would ultimately deteriorate, even if the legislation were implemented by a presidential administration. The application will remain accessible on devices for its 170 million users in the United States.

Conversely, the program would become ineligible for software updates. TikTok is on the verge of being inoperable because to its sluggish performance and numerous glitches.

A prohibition on the social media site would solely benefit Meta, which Trump has condemned for his unfounded assertion that the network adversely affected him during the 2020 presidential election.

Trump, who previously sought to prohibit TikTok during his initial presidency, reversed his stance and asserted that a restriction on the platform would merely benefit Meta. This transpired throughout his political efforts.

The subsequent phase may involve an appeals process that requires considerable time to finalise. The DC appeals court can entertain petitions from any party involved to reassess the case. The Supreme Court may then be requested to deliberate on it following its presentation.

SOURCE: TET

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