Britain’s spy agency has launched an offensive cyber operation to tackle anti-vaccine propaganda being spread online by hostile states.
GCHQ, which gathers communication from around the world to identify and disrupt threats to Britain, is using methods originally developed to tackle ISIS radicalisation material.
The threat of fake news surrounding new vaccines has led the security services to use the technology to counter disinformation activities linked to Russia, according to the Times.
The British government considers tackling false information about immunisation as a high priority, as the prospect of a reliable vaccine against the Covid-19 draws closer.
A vaccine is seen as the world’s best chance for tackling the pandemic that has led to more than 1.2 million deaths.
GCHQ is Britain’s main surveillance agency and it has a close relationship with the US National Security Agency, as well as with the security arms of Australia, Canada and New Zealand, in an intelligence alliance known as the “Five Eyes”.
"GCHQ has been told to take out anti-vaxers online and on social media," the Times said, citing a government source.
It cites Russia as being behind "a high proportion" of disinformation about the coronavirus.
The report said the focus of the operation is taking down hostile state-linked content and disrupting the communications of those responsible.
Last month, a fake news campaign targeted the UK's Oxford University vaccine, claiming it was capable of turning people into monkeys.
General Sir Nick Carter, UK chief of defence staff, has previously confirmed the security services are “helping to quash rumours" surrounding the pandemic.
They have been targeting fake news surrounding the outbreak and rogue remedies.
In the summer, Britain accused Russia of trying to hack western coronavirus vaccine research.
The National Cyber Security Centre identified attempts to access research laboratory data. Russia denies involvement.
Last month, US authorities charged six Russian military officers in connection with some of the world’s largest cyber attacks in the past decade.
The US Department of Justice revealed the charges against six officers from Russia’s main intelligence directorate GRU, saying they were members of a sophisticated, state-sponsored, secret hacking group called Sandworm.
They included computer fraud and conspiracy in launching attacks that entailed taking down Ukraine's power grid in 2015, an attempt to disrupt the French elections in 2016, and a cyber attack on the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics in South Korea in 2018.
Farasan Boat: 128km Away from Anchorage
Director: Mowaffaq Alobaid
Stars: Abdulaziz Almadhi, Mohammed Al Akkasi, Ali Al Suhaibani
Rating: 4/5
Company Profile:
Name: The Protein Bakeshop
Date of start: 2013
Founders: Rashi Chowdhary and Saad Umerani
Based: Dubai
Size, number of employees: 12
Funding/investors: $400,000 (2018)
UFC Fight Night 2
1am – Early prelims
2am – Prelims
4am-7am – Main card
7:30am-9am – press cons
How to watch Ireland v Pakistan in UAE
When: The one-off Test starts on Friday, May 11
What time: Each day’s play is scheduled to start at 2pm UAE time.
TV: The match will be broadcast on OSN Sports Cricket HD. Subscribers to the channel can also stream the action live on OSN Play.
The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre flat-six
Torque: 450Nm at 6,100rpm
Transmission: 7-speed PDK auto or 6-speed manual
Fuel economy, combined: 13.8L/100km
On sale: Available to order now
Destroyer
Director: Karyn Kusama
Cast: Nicole Kidman, Toby Kebbell, Sebastian Stan
Rating: 3/5
UAE release: January 31
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The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cylturbo
Transmission: seven-speed DSG automatic
Power: 242bhp
Torque: 370Nm
Price: Dh136,814
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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Our legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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if you go
The flights
Fly direct to Kutaisi with Flydubai from Dh925 return, including taxes. The flight takes 3.5 hours. From there, Svaneti is a four-hour drive. The driving time from Tbilisi is eight hours.
The trip
The cost of the Svaneti trip is US$2,000 (Dh7,345) for 10 days, including food, guiding, accommodation and transfers from and to Tbilisi or Kutaisi. This summer the TCT is also offering a 5-day hike in Armenia for $1,200 (Dh4,407) per person. For further information, visit www.transcaucasiantrail.org/en/hike/