标签： Jamaica

A recent investigation by the nonprofit Tech Transparency Project (TTP) has revealed that scammers are leveraging advanced artificial intelligence (AI) technologies to create deepfake videos of prominent figures, including former President Donald Trump, to deceive users on Meta’s platforms. These fraudulent advertisers have collectively spent $49 million on Facebook and Instagram, targeting vulnerable demographics, particularly seniors, with ads promoting fake government benefits such as stimulus checks, healthcare payments, and spending cards. The ads have reached tens of thousands of users, exploiting public confusion about social safety net programs and Meta’s content moderation gaps. Despite Meta’s policies prohibiting scams and its claims of investing in scam prevention, the report highlights that 63 scam advertisers ran over 150,600 political ads in the past year, with nearly half continuing to operate as of Tuesday. Meta has disabled 35 ad accounts, but only after they had run hundreds of ads, with six accounts spending over $1 million before being shut down. One notable example involved a deepfake video of Trump falsely promising stimulus checks, directing users to a fraudulent website. The report underscores the growing sophistication of online fraud and the challenges platforms face in combating it. Surveys indicate a significant rise in internet scams, with older adults increasingly falling victim to impersonation attacks, often losing substantial sums of money.

KINGSTON, Jamaica – Jamaica’s digital transformation must be expedited to align with the ambitious Vision 2030 objectives, emphasizing affordability, accessibility, and digital literacy, according to Stephen Price, Vice President and General Manager of Flow. Speaking at the Caribbean Telecommunications Union ICT Conference held at the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel, Price underscored the urgency of fostering a digitally literate population to support the nation’s technological aspirations. ‘We have five years to act swiftly and decisively to achieve our goal of becoming a technology-enabled society,’ he stated. Flow, a subsidiary of Liberty Caribbean and a key sponsor of the event, has significantly expanded its digital infrastructure since the COVID-19 pandemic, nearly doubling its fibre optic coverage to 760,000 homes and extending mobile services to 98% of the population. Additionally, the company has deployed six new cell sites to enhance coverage in underserved areas such as Runaway Bay and Ocean Heights. Beyond infrastructure, Flow’s JUMP programme provides vulnerable families with devices, subsidized internet access, and digital literacy training to promote inclusivity. The call for digital inclusion was reinforced by other panellists, including Elona Cela, Senior Investment Officer at the International Finance Corporation, who emphasized the need to bridge the digital divide in rural areas. ‘Children in rural communities must have equal access to broadband to unlock their full potential,’ she asserted. Charlton McFarlane, CEO of the Universal Service Fund, highlighted the impact of Jamaica’s 400 community Wi-Fi hotspots, which serve nearly 200,000 users monthly, supporting education and micro-entrepreneurship. Senator Dana Morris-Dixon, Minister of Education, Skills, Youth, and Information, reiterated the government’s commitment to public-private collaboration, stating, ‘Connectivity is not a luxury but a lifeline to better healthcare, education, and civic participation.’ While acknowledging progress, Price identified systemic challenges, including infrastructure theft and vandalism, and called for stricter penalties and more competitive spectrum rates to accelerate Jamaica’s digital evolution.

As cybercrime evolves into a trillion-dollar global industry, Jamaica’s Cyber Incident Response Team (CIRT) has issued a stark warning about the perilous consequences of careless online behavior. Speaking at a post-Cabinet media briefing on Wednesday, marking the start of Cybersecurity Awareness Month, Lieutenant Colonel (Retired) Godphey Sterling, CIRT’s director, emphasized that while technology has advanced rapidly, many Jamaicans remain dangerously indifferent to online security. He highlighted common vulnerabilities such as weak passwords, oversharing on social media, and insecure data storage, which provide cybercriminals with easy access to sensitive information. Sterling urged the public to adopt a more vigilant approach, stating, ‘You carry your lives in your pockets. Lock your devices and treat data as your new currency.’ He also stressed the importance of securely collecting, storing, and disposing of data for businesses. Sterling revealed that many of the most severe breaches investigated by CIRT stemmed from basic errors, such as misconfigured security systems, rather than sophisticated attacks. With over three million daily internet connections in Jamaica—70% accessed via mobile devices—Sterling underscored the need for heightened caution in navigating the digital world. He also highlighted the risks posed by smart devices, which continuously collect and transmit data to build user profiles. Additionally, Sterling pointed to the influence of international conflicts on cybercrime, warning that smaller nations like Jamaica are increasingly vulnerable to spillover attacks. Despite these challenges, he identified the reluctance of victims to report incidents as the greatest barrier to strengthening Jamaica’s cybersecurity defenses. As CIRT marks its 10th anniversary, Sterling emphasized the importance of fostering a culture of cybersecurity awareness across government, businesses, and individuals, aiming to develop a sustainable pipeline of local professionals to safeguard Jamaica’s digital space.