The Tech Transparency Project – Latest News Analysis
The Tech Transparency Project is a nonprofit group that works to increase public awareness of the impact that multinational corporations have on society. They monitor and publish information about corporate activities, including the use of taxpayer money. Among the issues they address are how Google misrepresents its products and services, and how China’s government is redistributing research and development funding from American companies to Chinese institutions.
Google’s misleading ads to Americans searching for how to vote in the upcoming midterms
Google’s search ads have been shown to be misleading when it comes to information about the upcoming midterms. According to a new study from the Tech Transparency Project, these ads are serving up misleading claims and false information. The report reveals how the world’s largest search engine is misusing its vast resources to provide people with misleading information.
First, the campaign found that many of the misleading claims were served on sites that violated Google’s ad policies. For example, Google failed to block ads on the CDC’s public service announcement about diabetes. Also, the company was unable to catch ninety percent of election ads. It’s unclear why the company is failing to do its job.
As the midterms approach, tech companies are preparing to roll out fact checks and voter guides. But in the face of a wave of political falsehoods, experts are asking whether they’re doing enough to counter them.
For instance, the Tech Transparency Project found that nearly one in ten ads directed users to sites that charge to check voter registration status. That’s because these sites are a lucrative target for scam artists, which means that Google needs to be more strict with its ad policies.
Chinese talent recruitment plans violate U.S. research values
China is reportedly recruiting top scholars and foreign scientists through talent recruitment programs. These programs are designed to lure foreign experts and scholars to China and to encourage them to transfer knowledge, technology and research. The Chinese government also funds these programs, offering generous stipends to attract recruits and set up labs in China.
Some experts have raised questions about the intentions of these plans. They claim that these programs have been used by the Chinese government to steal U.S. research, a violation of intellectual property rights.
The United States Senate will hold a hearing on November 19 to address these issues. Experts from various agencies will testify. This includes representatives from the National Science Foundation (NSF), the Department of Energy, the Department of Defense and the FBI.
The Portman Report raises three major concerns. One concerns the confidentiality of sensitive information passed to the Chinese authorities. Another concerns the use of talent recruitment plans by other nations.
Chinese talent recruitment plans target U.S.-based researchers and scientists
China has launched several talent recruitment programs to recruit experts from overseas to fill the country’s need for scientists and researchers. But these programs are being used to advance China’s national interests, not to advance American science.
The National Science Foundation (NSF) is among the federal science-funding agencies whose policies are in place to mitigate the threat posed by foreign talent recruitment plans. Its policy prohibits federal employees from participating in these programs. However, some participants are allowed to take part if they abide by the US science-funding agency’s policies.
In the United States, the FBI has launched the “China Initiative” to investigate the transfer of scientific knowledge to China. Researchers at Baylor College of Medicine are being investigated for failing to disclose their affiliation with China. Similarly, the FBI has noted that TTP participants are submitting research materials to China.
Several investigations have been opened into researchers recruited under China’s TTP since 2018. These include a probe by the FBI into a U.S. university researcher, Zheng, who transferred research materials to China.
Chinese talent recruitment plans target U.S.-based institutions
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) announced a “China Initiative” in 2018. It aims to combat the transfer of scientific knowledge to China. As part of the initiative, the FBI is investigating the actions of U.S.-based scientists and universities in conjunction with Chinese talent recruitment plans.
These programs involve the recruitment of foreign talent, particularly experts in science, technology, engineering and mathematics. Chinese leaders recognized that these programs were needed to advance their country’s science and technological development. They sought to control the flow of talent and have a strategic plan for acquiring knowledge.
Some scientists affiliated with these talent recruitment plans have engaged in intellectual property theft. In addition, the FBI has charged some of them with illegally transferring research materials to China.
Some scientists, while participating in these programs, have also lied about their involvement. For example, one scientist, Zheng, was involved in a TTP program but failed to disclose his connection with a Chinese university. He then transferred the research he had completed to Sun Yat-sen University in Guangzhou, China.