The report points out that ransomware is a risk to U.S. public services and critical infrastructure, with cybercriminals improving their attacks and extorting funds. It also warns of the increasing use of generative AI in digital influence operations, such as election interference and generating deepfakes. The report also reveals that U.S. spy agencies are buying up vast troves of Americans’ commercially available location data and internet traffic from data brokers, a practice currently not limited by any constitutional or statutory law.
Key takeaways:
- At least 74 countries have contracted with private companies to obtain commercial spyware, which is increasingly being used to target dissidents and journalists, according to the U.S. intelligence community's annual report.
- The U.S. is struggling to counter ransomware, citing it as an ongoing risk to public services and critical infrastructure, with cybercriminals improving their attacks and extorting funds.
- The U.S. intelligence community warns of the growing use of generative AI in digital influence operations, such as election interference and generating deepfakes, with Russia and China being particularly active in this area.
- U.S. spy agencies are legally allowed to buy commercially available data on Americans, including location data and internet traffic, due to the absence of constitutional or statutory limits on such practices.