🔥 The Evolution of Propaganda Under Deep Fake Weaponization

Good Morning. 

The Defense Policy Board is convening classified meetings to assess the Department of Defense's readiness for large-scale mobilization in a potential "protracted high-intensity conflict," with briefings from top officials including Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and Adm. Samuel Paparo.

The board will evaluate various aspects of mobilization readiness, including materiel production and sustainment capabilities, and provide recommendations to acting Under Secretary of Defense for Policy Amanda Dory, highlighting the Pentagon's focus on preparing for potential large-scale conflicts.

— 🐈‍⬛ Acoustic Kitty

THE BOTTOM LINE UP FRONT

The evolution of propaganda has reached a critical point with the emergence of deepfake technology in warfare, using AI to create convincing fake videos of public figures to manipulate public opinion and military morale.

These wartime deepfakes have been weaponized to spread disinformation, fuel conspiracy theories, and undermine public trust in information across various conflict zones and geopolitical contexts.

The rapid scalability and global impact of this technology pose unprecedented challenges to news verification, military operations, and international relations, transforming the landscape of modern information warfare and propaganda.

INTERNATIONAL SECURITY & DIPLOMACY

Counterterrorism

• The FBI conducted a wide-ranging counterterrorism investigation into 8 Tajik men who entered the U.S. through the southern border, suspecting possible ties to ISIS, which led to their arrest on immigration charges amid heightened concerns about potential terrorist threats.

• Turkish President Erdogan criticized Israel's potential expansion of military operations to the Lebanon border, while U.S. officials urged Israel to pursue diplomatic solutions with Hezbollah to prevent a regional war.

• Palestinian security officials warn that terror groups could launch sophisticated rockets from the West Bank into Israel within a year, citing increased weapons and explosives smuggling from Jordan.

Military & Defense

• The Pentagon warns that North Korean troops potentially aiding Russia in Ukraine would become "cannon fodder," highlighting the high casualty rates in Russia's war effort and the risks for North Korean forces if they join the conflict.

• The Japan Air Self-Defense Force will conduct joint drills with air forces from Germany, France, and Spain in July as part of the Pacific Skies 24 exercise, marking the first time aircraft from these three European countries will be deployed to Japan simultaneously.

• The Air Force has fired Col. Charles Clegg, head of the $131B Sentinel ICBM program, citing procedural violations and loss of confidence, though officials say the removal is not directly related to the program's escalating costs and ongoing Pentagon review.

Cybersecurity

• The U.S. Department of Energy has released new Supply Chain Cybersecurity Principles, developed with Idaho National Laboratory and supported by major energy sector manufacturers, to establish best practices for strengthening the cybersecurity of global energy infrastructure supply chains.

• A hacker claims to have breached India's eMigrate labor portal, potentially exposing sensitive personal data of migrant workers, including passport details and contact information.

• Hackers are exploiting Microsoft Saved Console (MSC) files to take advantage of an unpatched Windows cross-site scripting vulnerability, allowing them to remotely execute malware on target systems.

• AU10TIX, an identity verification company used by major tech platforms to comply with age verification mandates, exposed sensitive user data for over a year due to a security lapse, highlighting the risks associated with laws requiring age verification for social media access.

Counterintelligence & Espionage

• American journalist Evan Gershkovich's espionage trial began in Russia amid closed-door proceedings, with U.S. officials denouncing the case as politically motivated and calling for his immediate release.

• Chinese scientists claim to have developed a method using common weather radar to detect small "spy balloons" with a radar cross-section comparable to that of an F-35 stealth fighter, potentially outperforming US military detection capabilities.

Transnational Organized Crime

• Former Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernandez, once seen as a reliable US partner, was sentenced to 45 years in prison and fined $8M after being convicted of participating in an 18-year drug-trafficking conspiracy that facilitated the transport of massive amounts of cocaine to the United States.

• Haiti welcomes the arrival of Kenyan police forces as part of a UN-backed multinational intervention to combat gang violence, with Haitians expressing both hope and concern about the effectiveness of this fourth major foreign intervention in the country's history.

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

Starfish Space and Intelsat have signed an agreement for a landmark satellite servicing mission in 2026, where Starfish's Otter spacecraft will dock with and boost the orbit of an operational Intelsat satellite in geostationary orbit (GEO) to extend its lifespan.

This mission represents a potential paradigm shift in satellite operations, as it could allow satellite operators to significantly extend the operational life of their multi-million dollar assets and increase the flexibility of their fleet management in GEO, where satellites typically operate for about 20 years.

Starfish aims to develop a large-scale market for on-orbit satellite servicing, envisioning future fleets of Otter spacecraft ready to provide life extension and disposal services for satellites in GEO.

In other news…

GM Defense is collaborating with academic and military partners to evaluate commercial electric vehicle batteries for potential military applications, including directed energy systems, as part of a Department of Defense initiative.

The Pentagon plans to identify the next set of capabilities for its Replicator program this summer, aiming to include funding in the fiscal 2026 budget proposal for technologies that meet near-term operational needs and could benefit from senior leadership focus.

ULA's second Vulcan rocket launch, now targeted for September, will carry technology demonstrations instead of Sierra Space's Dream Chaser spaceplane, as the company prioritizes completing certification missions for national security payloads.

GM's Cruise appoints Marc Whitten, a founding engineer of Xbox and Xbox Live, as CEO, filling the position vacant since December after a robotaxi incident.

ESA scientists have 3D-printed LEGO-style "space bricks" using meteorite dust to test construction ideas for a future moon base, with these bricks now on display in select LEGO stores to inspire the next generation of space engineers.

DEALS & FUNDING

Volkswagen Group has agreed to invest up to $5B in EV startup Rivian as part of a major software development deal, which includes creating a 50-50 joint venture to develop and grow technology, potentially benefiting all of Volkswagen's brands.

This partnership gives Volkswagen access to Rivian's advanced electrical architecture and software platform, addressing the German automaker's struggles with software development in the transition to electric vehicles, while providing Rivian with crucial funding and support for its future projects, including the mass-market R2 SUV.

The deal involves an initial $1B investment via a convertible note, followed by additional investments in Rivian's common stock and the joint venture.

In other news…

Formation Bio, a startup applying AI to drug development, has raised $372M in Series D funding, bringing its total funding to over $600M and valuation above $1B.

The U.S. Navy has awarded Northrop Grumman a $42.7M contract, potentially increasing to $123.2M, for engineering and sustainment of updated JCREW counter-IED jamming systems, as part of the Pentagon's ongoing efforts to combat evolving roadside bomb threats for U.S. forces and Australia.

NovaSpark Energy Corporation has been awarded a contract by the Defense Innovation Unit to develop a mobile hydrogen fuel generation solution using their "Air-to-Power" technology for next-generation defense applications and mobility.

Since the war's start in October, Israel's Ministry of Defense has spent NIS 30B on local procurement, with over half allocated to defense equipment, ammunition, and weapons, while also investing in restoring critical capabilities, particularly in land weapons production, reflecting a significant increase in military spending and a focus on enhancing domestic production.