Tag

Dissidents

All articles tagged with #dissidents

politics14 days ago

Founder of NYC Beijing-backed outpost convicted of illegal foreign agent role

A Brooklyn jury convicted Lu Jianwang, a U.S. citizen who helped run a Chinatown outpost tied to China’s government, of acting as an illegal foreign agent and obstructing justice by deleting messages; he was acquitted on a conspiracy charge. Prosecutors said the “police station” served to monitor dissidents, while Lu’s defense argued it was a community center; sentencing is pending. Co-defendant Chen Jinping had previously pleaded guilty to conspiracy.

Two London Spying Convictions Ties UK Dissidents to Beijing
world19 days ago

Two London Spying Convictions Ties UK Dissidents to Beijing

Two men, Chung Biu Yuen and Chi Leung Wai — including a former UK Border Force officer — were found guilty in London of spying for a foreign intelligence service by surveilling Hong Kong dissidents in Britain, including activist Nathan Law, between December 2023 and May 2024; they face up to 14 years in prison, while a third co-defendant died and a separate ‘foreign interference’ charge ended with a hung jury, highlighting ongoing security tensions between the UK and China.

AI diary reveals China’s global dissident intimidation operation
world3 months ago

AI diary reveals China’s global dissident intimidation operation

OpenAI’s new report details a sprawling Chinese influence operation that used ChatGPT as a diary to document and execute repression against dissidents abroad, including impersonating US immigration officials and trying to take down a dissident’s social media via forged court documents. The effort involved hundreds of operators and thousands of fake accounts and illustrates how AI tools can power authoritarian information campaigns. OpenAI banned the user after matching diary notes with real-world activity, highlighting ongoing AI-driven geopolitical information operations amid US–China AI competition.

Fleeing Putin's Russia: Dissidents Speak Out on 60 Minutes
international-politics2 years ago

Fleeing Putin's Russia: Dissidents Speak Out on 60 Minutes

In the wake of Putin's unopposed re-election in Russia, many courageous Russian dissidents have fled to Lithuania, a NATO ally that has welcomed over 2,500 Russian exiles. These dissidents, including a crusading mother and a human rights activist, have spoken out against Putin's regime, which has cracked down on internal opposition and independent media. They continue their fight for freedom and democracy from abroad, while facing concerns about their safety as Russia constantly probes and attempts to silence them.

"Russian Dissidents: Still Serving Time Despite Navalny's Death"
world-news2 years ago

"Russian Dissidents: Still Serving Time Despite Navalny's Death"

Russian President Vladimir Putin is expected to secure his fifth term in power, with prominent dissidents like Vladimir Kara-Murza, Ilya Yashin, Andrei Pivovarov, Lilia Chanysheva, Oleg Orlov, and Alexei Gorinov serving time in prison for various charges, including treason, spreading false information, and criticizing the government's actions. These cases have raised concerns about the safety of imprisoned dissidents and the suppression of dissent in Russia.

"Controversy Surrounds Navalny's Funeral Amid Allegations of Abuse and Obstruction"
world-news2 years ago

"Controversy Surrounds Navalny's Funeral Amid Allegations of Abuse and Obstruction"

The funeral of Russian dissident Alexei Navalny, set for Friday, reflects the current political climate in Russia under Vladimir Putin's rule. Navalny's family has faced obstacles in arranging the funeral, reminiscent of past dissidents' burials, such as Anatoly Marchenko and Andrei Sakharov. The Russian government's handling of Navalny's funeral has drawn comparisons to past dissident funerals, with Navalny's team calling for supporters to attend despite potential arrests or clashes. The funeral of Boris Nemtsov, another opposition figure, also serves as a reminder of the government's crackdown on dissent.

"Revealed: Chinese Hacking Scheme Targeting Dissidents Goes Global"
cybersecurity2 years ago

"Revealed: Chinese Hacking Scheme Targeting Dissidents Goes Global"

A leaked trove of over 500 sensitive technical documents reveals a Chinese technology company's hacking operations, target lists, and marketing materials for the Chinese government, with a focus on surveilling and harassing dissidents critical of the Chinese government. The leaked documents also detail the company's bidding for work to surveil the Uyghur population and its relationships with Chinese government agencies. Cybersecurity researchers are analyzing the leak, which includes details on custom spying devices and internal bureaucratic information, providing valuable insights into China's competitive marketplace for hacking operations.

Hong Kong Police Detain 4 Men for Alleged Overseas Support, National Security Threat
world2 years ago

Hong Kong Police Detain 4 Men for Alleged Overseas Support, National Security Threat

Hong Kong police have arrested four men accused of providing financial support to individuals who fled overseas and are involved in activities endangering national security. The suspects, believed to be former members of the pro-democracy party Demosisto, are accused of using companies, social media, and mobile applications to receive funds and support individuals overseas. The arrests come as part of an ongoing crackdown on dissidents in Hong Kong, with over 260 people arrested under the National Security Law. The police operation is ongoing, and further arrests have not been ruled out.

The Complexities of Military Allegiances in the Ukraine-Russia Conflict.
international-relations3 years ago

The Complexities of Military Allegiances in the Ukraine-Russia Conflict.

Russian dissidents in Belgorod are siding with Ukraine in the ongoing conflict, but are struggling to adhere to Kyiv's official line. The dissidents recently paraded a captured Russian vehicle, and their actions have raised concerns about potential repercussions from the Russian government. The conflict between Russia and Ukraine continues to escalate, with both sides experiencing losses on the battlefield.

Suspected poisoning of Russian exiles under investigation by German police.
crime3 years ago

Suspected poisoning of Russian exiles under investigation by German police.

German police are investigating the possible poisoning of two Russian exiles who attended a conference in Berlin organized by a Russian Kremlin critic. The investigation is being handled by the state security unit, a specialized team that examines cases related to "terrorism" or politically motivated crimes. Several poison attacks have been carried out abroad and in Russia against Kremlin opponents in recent years, and Moscow denies its secret services were responsible.

Belarusian Dissidents' Families Held Hostage.
politics3 years ago

Belarusian Dissidents' Families Held Hostage.

The families and friends of dissident figures in Belarus are being targeted by the government in retaliation for anti-government actions of their relatives. The crackdown on those who disagree with Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko intensified after a widely disputed presidential election in 2020. The families of activists have been subjected to much harsher intimidation techniques than ever before, including raids on their homes. At the time of writing, 1,497 people are behind bars for politically motivated charges. The United Nations believes that the Belarusian authorities use extremism and counter-terrorism laws to suppress dissent.

Iran denies school poisonings, accuses foreign enemies.
politics3 years ago

Iran denies school poisonings, accuses foreign enemies.

Iran's intelligence ministry has blamed foreign "enemies" and dissidents for fomenting fears over suspected poisonings of schoolgirls, saying its investigation found no actual poisoning. The ministry report accused unnamed dissidents of provoking fears to produce propaganda videos and warned of "prosecution of individuals, groups, media who accused the government ... and aligned themselves with enemies". The suspected poisonings began in November in the holy Shi'ite Muslim city of Qom and spread to 28 of Iran's 31 provinces, according to activist HRANA news agency, prompting some parents to take children out of school and protest.

Chinese 'Police Stations' in US Targeting Dissent and Opposition
politics3 years ago

Chinese 'Police Stations' in US Targeting Dissent and Opposition

Chinese Communist Party enforcers in their secret US network of police stations are ordered to harass dissidents, spy for plots to overthrow the regime – and to monitor derisive remarks about President Xi Jinping’s resemblance to Winnie the Pooh. The Chinese police stations – two of them based in New York City – cooperate with the country’s diplomats to pressure dissidents, including pro-democracy demonstrators, to return to China where they face repression and imprisonment. Federal prosecutors are painting the most detailed picture of what goes on inside the police stations so far, including details of how Communist Party enforcers monitor social media for signs of perceived disrespect to China’s president-for-life.