Pagers and Walkie-Talkies, Digital World’s Warfare and Killing as a Workflow Management
Last week, pagers and walkie-talkies were turned into weapons in Lebanon and Syria, leaving at least a dozen dead and more than 2,700 injured.
Marietje Schaake released the book "The Tech Coup: How to Save Democracy from Silicon Valley" and discussed how tech companies own the battlefields in today’s wars in an essay in Fast Company.
But first, with the UN adopting the Global Digital Impact at the Future Summit this week, AI regulation and automation bias is again the big topic:
The Big Story
Pagers and Walkie-Talkies as Weapons
Last week Tuesday, pagers used by hundreds of Hezbollah members exploded almost simultaneously across parts of Lebanon and Syria, leaving at least a dozen dead and more than 2,700 injured. The day after, 20 more were killed and hundreds wounded when walkie-talkies in Lebanon exploded.
For years, Hezbollah leaders have urged to reduce reliance on smartphones, saying that Israel was bugging them. In a speech televised on Feb 13, Hezbollah’s Secretary General Hassan Nasrallah warned that phones could be more dangerous than Israeli spies, urging to break and bury them. Pagers and walkie-talkies were chosen as the safer option, with the limited capabilities of the pagers believed to allow them to receive data without revealing the user’s location. A Lebanese security official told Reuters that around 5,000 pagers were brought into the country about five months ago.
The pagers beeped for 10 seconds and then exploded, pointing at that a very small amount of explosives had been put in, weighing as little as 3 grams, and set to explode when receiving a specific message. To have executed this, the supply chain is believed to have been interrupted using a combination of old-school intelligence craft and cutting-edge technological capabilities.
Israel has not taken responsibility for the attack. Still, media reports are suggesting that Israeli intelligence has the capability for an attack of this scale and is said to be 15 years in the making.
A small Taiwanese company called Gold Apollo was quickly pulled into the spotlight after its brand name was found on the pagers. The company's founder and head told reporters that the pagers were made by a firm in Budapest that acquired a licence to produce its devices. The company in Budapest - BAC Consulting, said they were only an intermediary. A Hungarian government spokesperson tweeted, “Authorities have confirmed that the company in question is a trading intermediary, with no manufacturing or operational site in Hungary.. the referenced devices have never been in Hungary.”
A Japanese company that apparently made the walkie-talkies that exploded on Wednesday said it stopped producing that model 10 years ago.
Comments on the attacks highlighted that traditional tactics are increasingly giving way to advanced technologies like explosive devices and kamikaze drones powered by artificial intelligence, often leveraging consumer electronics that are readily available online. Others pointed at the key weakness in modern warfare: reliance on long, loosely connected global supply chains. The growing complexity means more entities are involved in supply chains across more locations, making oversight and accountability harder.
On Thursday, Lebanese officials banned walkie-talkies and pagers on flights from Beirut. Airlines like Lufthansa have instructed passengers to report any overheating phone to the crew immediately.
How to Govern the Digital World’s Warfare
This week, Marietje Schaake released her new book, "The Tech Coup: How to Save Democracy from Silicon Valley." The book was accompanied by a long-read piece in Fast Company titled "Tech Companies Aren't Just Going to War. They're Owning the Battlefield."
In the essay, Schaake explores the connection between tech companies and war. With SpaceX’s involvement in Ukraine, Silicon Valley’s “new darlings” Anduril and Shield AI have made war even murkier, she writes, mentioning that Ronan Farrow has called Musk “a private citizen with a private company who had become the arbiter of the outcome of this war.”
The major question Schaake raises is around state sovereignty, which assumes that a government is responsible for activities within its borders and must uphold international standards and agreements. Companies are not signatories to international treaties - so where do tech companies stand if it makes more business sense to be on the other side of a conflict? How can democratic authorities uphold rule-of-law mechanisms in this situation? What happens with regulations of Cyber Wars?
Schaake calls for a revamp of laws governing warfare in the digital world - regulations that can govern the high pace of digital disruption and cross-border operation of tech companies.
This Week’s Extras
The New York Times Daily released a podcast based on a New York Times investigation that has found that Telegram, one of the world’s biggest messaging apps, with nearly a billion users, is also a giant black market and gathering place for the likes of terrorists and white supremacists and a tool of war.
Adam Satariano, a technology reporter for The Times, discusses the story of Telegram and the arrest of its founder, Pavel Durov.
In the News
Palmer Luckey Is Bringing Anduril Smarts To Microsoft’s Military Headset
Palmer Luckey, founder of Anduril Industries, is integrating Anduril’s Lattice software into Microsoft’s Integrated Visual Augmentation System (IVAS), a head-mounted augmented-reality display used by the U.S. Army. This collaboration aims to enhance soldiers' battlefield awareness by providing real-time data from drones, autonomous systems, and defense platforms. The Lattice software, originally developed for Anduril's drones and air defenses, will allow soldiers to access visual and auditory information for improved decision-making and operational efficiency, blending futuristic combat scenarios with practical applications.
Read more at Wired.
NATO Explores New Drone Technology As ‘Pandora’s Box’ Opened In Ukraine-Russia War
NATO is actively exploring new drone countermeasures as unmanned systems play a pivotal role in the Ukraine-Russia war. At a recent NATO exercise, more than 50 counter-drone technologies were tested, highlighting the ongoing “cat-and-mouse” nature of drone warfare. Ukraine’s Ministry of Defence noted the significant challenge of dealing with ISR (Intelligence, Surveillance, Reconnaissance) drones and FPV drones. The rapid advancement in drone technology poses both offensive and defensive challenges, with NATO officials acknowledging the increasing threat to civilian and military infrastructure.
Read more at EuroNews.
How Digital Twin Technology Can Curb Supply Chain Disruptions During Conflicts
Digital twin technology is emerging as a powerful tool to mitigate supply chain disruptions caused by conflicts, such as those in the Red Sea or between China and Taiwan. A digital twin replicates supply chain processes in real-time, allowing businesses to simulate and plan for disruptions. It enables better visibility, predictive analytics, and scenario planning, making supply chains more resilient. By integrating IoT sensors, blockchain, and advanced analytics, companies can optimize logistics, reduce downtime, and respond quickly to transportation delays or geopolitical events.
Read more at Newlines Institute.
The New UN Global Digital Compact: What It Is, And Why We Matter
The UN General Assembly has adopted the Global Digital Compact (GDC), aiming to create a global framework for the responsible, inclusive, and sustainable governance of digital technologies. The GDC outlines principles such as universal internet connectivity, human rights online, digital inclusion, and promoting trust in emerging technologies like AI. It emphasizes the need for collaboration across governments, businesses, and civil society to ensure digital technologies advance the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and benefit humanity while safeguarding fundamental rights.
Read more at Forbes.
Taiwan’s Military To Focus On Tech For Defense
Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense announced a strategic shift toward research, development, and implementation of drone systems, artificial intelligence (AI), and advanced technologies to enhance its defence capabilities. The newly established Defense Innovation Team will focus on integrating these technologies, with partnerships involving both military and private companies. This move aligns with Taiwan's focus on asymmetric warfare to counter China’s “grey zone” tactics. Taiwan’s collaboration with the U.S. on military tech production and innovation is expected to bolster its defence infrastructure and enhance combat readiness.
Read more at Taipei Times.
Defense Tech Innovation And The Role Of Startups
In the face of rising geopolitical tensions, the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) is prioritizing defence innovation through partnerships with startups. These startups, often at the forefront of technological advancements in AI, quantum science, and autonomous systems, are essential to maintaining U.S. military superiority. However, navigating the complex government contracting process remains a challenge for startups. To address this, the DoD is leveraging initiatives like the Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) to bridge the gap between innovation and production, providing funding and resources to help startups thrive and contribute to national security efforts.
Read more at JP Morgan.
Defense Tech Startup Gets $2M To Simplify DoD Contracting And Lockheed Martin Wins NASA Contract
Pryzm, a defense tech startup, has secured $2 million in funding to simplify the often convoluted process of securing Department of Defense (DoD) contracts. Founded in 2022, the startup offers a personalized dashboard that aggregates contract data to help companies navigate government procurement more efficiently. The startup’s goal is to make it easier for tech companies to break into the defense sector. Meanwhile, Lockheed Martin has won a $297.1 million NASA contract to develop lightning mapping instruments for the GeoXO satellite program, which will enhance storm tracking and wildfire detection capabilities.
Read more at Clearance Jobs.
Germany To Install Missile Defence Systems On New Government Jets
Germany is set to equip its new fleet of A350 government jets, used by senior officials like Chancellor Olaf Scholz and President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, with advanced missile defence systems. The system, developed by Israeli company Elbit in partnership with Germany’s Diehl, uses infrared technology to disable incoming missiles. The installation is part of a broader effort to enhance security for high-ranking officials amid rising geopolitical tensions. The planes will be equipped in phases to avoid service disruptions.
Read more at Reuters.
NATO Explores New Drone Technology As ‘Pandora’s Box’ Opened In Ukraine-Russia War
NATO is exploring the latest drone technologies in response to the growing use of unmanned systems in the Ukraine-Russia conflict. The alliance conducted a military exercise testing counter-drone technologies, including jamming, cyber-hacking, and AI-powered solutions. Ukraine has faced significant challenges from ISR (Intelligence, Surveillance, Reconnaissance) drones, which are difficult to detect and counter. The proliferation of low-cost FPV drones has also raised concerns about future threats to civilian infrastructure. NATO officials warn that the rapid evolution of drone technology is creating new security challenges.
Read more at Euronews.
