Tauno Tõhk

Tackling foreign information manipulation and interference @eu_eeas. Previously @Ansip_EU's team @EU_Commission. Also @DigitalEU, @EstonianGovt. Personal views.

[AlbertYZhang @AlbertYZhang]

1/ AI-generated avatars👤, fake paternity tests⚕️, 'leaked' documents 📄and everything else the CCP tried spamming to manipulate the Taiwan 2024 elections.

⚠️A thread on what @ASPI_org observed and a warning for other democracies this year:

https://t.co/WX8rr9qlj3

[Christian Wigand @ExtSpoxEU]

Taiwan: Statement on the elections 👉 https://t.co/Gqe70Lak5M

[Christian Wigand @ExtSpoxEU]

Hong Kong: The trial opened against media entrepreneur Jimmy Lai under #NationalSecurityLaw charges related to his support for free expression & democracy. 🇪🇺deplores the charges against him + journalists from Apple Daily & is monitoring the trial closely.
https://t.co/SRSmv7u2Qu

[Tauno Tõhk @toehk]

Information manipulation tactics keep evolving.

[ASPI @ASPI_org]

🚨 NEW REPORT 🚨

In 'Shadow play: a pro-China technology and anti-US influence operation thrives on YouTube', @jacintakeast identifies a large, inauthentic influence campaign originating on YouTube and promoting pro-China and anti-US narratives that make novel use of generative artificial intelligence voiceovers.

📕 Read the report ➡️ https://t.co/eorITZYaWW

[Tauno Tõhk @toehk]

Also includes elements of information manipulation (attempts to covertly buy media articles and publicly discredit a researcher) #FIMI

[Financial Times @FT]

Chinese spies ran a far-right Belgian politician as an intelligence asset for more than two years. Read the FT’s joint investigation with Der Spiegel and Le Monde here: https://t.co/VUE3uQjbun

[Josep Borrell Fontelles @JosepBorrellF]

Building on EU Council’s clear stance that Israel has the right to defend itself in line with international humanitarian law and ensuring the protection of all civilians, I am appalled by the high number of casualties following the bombing by Israel of the Jabalia refugee camp.

[António Guterres @antonioguterres]

As we are on the verge of the abyss in the Middle East, I have two humanitarian appeals:

To Hamas, the hostages must be immediately released without conditions.

To Israel, rapid & unimpeded access for humanitarian aid must be granted for the sake of the civilians in Gaza.

[Tauno Tõhk @toehk]

Foreign information manipulation and interference has been firmly on the agenda in our discussions with Australia 🇦🇺🇪🇺 #FIMI

[European External Action Service - EEAS 🇪🇺 @eu_eeas]

On Wednesday 11/10 the EU and Australia held their first dedicated Security & Defence Dialogue. Both sides exchanged assessments and coordinated their effort on key issues such as #MaritimeSecurity, cybersecurity and foreign interference and manipulation of information #FIMI

[Josep Borrell Fontelles @JosepBorrellF]

I welcome Germany's China strategy, which is an important contribution to our China policy, in line with the EU Council approach.

A robust and realistic approach, based on the goal to pursue constructive and stable EU-China relations.

[Nabila Massrali @NabilaEUspox]

The overhaul of the District Council elections is another setback for democracy in Hong Kong. It drastically reduces the number of directly elected seats and eliminates one of Hong Kong’s last remaining democratic features. (1/2)

[Josep Borrell Fontelles @JosepBorrellF]

The EU condemns the decision of Hong Kong authorities to issue arrest warrants under the National Security Law for eight pro-democracy activists living outside of Hong Kong. The extra-territorial application of this law is only adding to our existing concerns.

[Kaja Kallas @kajakallas]

It's official: #Estonia has legalised marriage equality. We join other Nordic nations with this historic decision.

I'm proud of my country. We're building a society where everyone’s rights are respected and people can love freely.

The decision will enter into force from 2024.

[Tauno Tõhk @toehk]

Australia, Canada, and India's journalists have been ousted from China, a country limiting foreign reporting alongside domestic censorship.

China is second-last in @RSF_inter World Press Freedom Index, only above DPRK. Yet, 🇨🇳 own state-controlled media is expanding globally.

[Foreign Correspondents' Club of China @fccchina]

FCCC statement on Indian journalists in China

[Nabila Massrali @NabilaEUspox]

The sentencing of #HumanRights lawyer Chang Weiping for 3.5 years is yet another example of China’s crackdown on human rights defenders. Mr Chang was merely advocating for the rule of law and against torture. We call for his immediate and unconditional release.

[Paola Pampaloni @PAMPALONIPAOLA]

The world will never forget what happened 34 years ago on 4 April 1989 in Beijing 🇨🇳#TiananmenMassacre #TiananmenSquareMassacre The EU will continue advocating for people’s human rights and fundamental freedoms in the world.

[European External Action Service - EEAS 🇪🇺 @eu_eeas]

EEAS Deputy Secretary-General @enriquemora_ meets Special Envoy of the Chinese Government for Eurasian Affairs Li Hui. The two sides discussed Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine and ways to promote a just and sustainable peace. More ⤵
https://t.co/2sF0iGdnRv

[Freedom House @freedomhouse]

Our new #transnationalrepression (TNR) dataset update reveals that the PRC is responsible for 30% of the 854 direct, physical incidents of TNR we've documented since 2014.

For more information & recommendations for policymakers: https://t.co/0RyYTM3Rs1

[Tauno Tõhk @toehk]

Information manipulation goes beyond #disinformation and includes efforts to remove voices from public sphere. Public reports indicate that China-linked actors are doing it systematically.
A case of suppression described by @marijevlaskamp in @volkskrant https://t.co/44QzaxChOD

[Tauno Tõhk @toehk]

@kaimarkaru Nõus. See, mida ütles järgmises saateosas reaktsioonina Külli Taro, oleks saatejuhtidel pidanud juba eelnevalt jutupunktidena valmis olema. Nagu kirjutad, Helme küüniline vandenõuteooria oli ju igati ettearvatav.

[The New York Times @nytimes]

Estonia has given a big general election win to its center-right government. The party of Prime Minister Kaja Kallas, who has pushed the West to send more weapons to Ukraine and impose tough penalties on Russia, finished far ahead of eight other parties. https://t.co/RBVKY3opT6