Thread by @AimeeKGunther

Next session: the incredibly relevant Open Science vs research security😬

First up, Tricia Geddes from @csiscanada speaks of the evidence of 🇨🇦 quantum tech being highly sought after by foreign actors.

"Spies are now more likely to wear lab coats than trench coats"
#CSPC2020

Ex) In March, Canada launched $$$ COVID research efforts. ⚠️CSIS intelligence reported inc. coordinated activity for tracking PPE and R&D equipment.
➡️CSIS began strategic comms campaigns to reach out to academics/industry before it was too late
#CSPC2020

Eric Bisaillon (@cybercentre_ca) now discusses nefarious acquisitions of IP. Now seeing COVID-19 flavour to cyber phishing, randsomware, and influence campaigns.

In general, Canada is one of the top countries affected by randomware
#CSPC2020

For foreign intelligence, Canada's 👌 R&D reputation is a motivation for the increased cyber targeting, as observed in recent activities.

➡️@cybercentre_ca also has a lot of resources on cyber threats: cyber.gc.ca/en/
#CSPC2020

Martha Crago (@mcgillu) now speaks from her experience with @U15ca on foreign interference.

She brings up the Thousand Talents Plan: theglobeandmail.com/politics/artic…

But blanket statements of "no students from X, or don't work with Y company" don't help (despite being easy options).

Motivations for interference: countries with big amounts of data, big $$$, or protecting their own IP
#CSPC2020

Life next to the 🇺🇸: US funding agencies require research equipment not be from one of four companies.
➡️Now Canadian universities with such equipment not able to access some American R&D funding

It's a new, nuanced world out there. No black and white.
#CSPC2020

Many panelists speak of varied responses when speaking on these types of threats. Some folk: 🤨skeptical, others: "please help/inform!"

▪️New eras: "before COVID" vs "after COVID" for response/tools
▪️Senior university leaders doubting reports of activity
#CSPC2020

Tricia (@csiscanada) also mentions troubles with government to publicly communicate some of these risks. Nuanced conversations needed.
#CSPC2020

Intentional, unwitting, coercive spying.

One definition:
▪️those 👩‍🔬who were forced into becoming a spy, vs
▪️those 🕵️‍♀️who put on a lab coat.
And the unknowing folk in the middle!
#CSPC2020

International collaborations? Time to be careful. Good question: what is worth it?

Dual-use research, higher risk. Are you ok holding some data set/IP out in the open?

What about physical/digital spaces for collaborations? Solutions/controls are out there
#CSPC2020

Trusted collaboration, theFive Eyes (FVEY):={🇨🇦,🇺🇸,🇳🇿,🇬🇧,🇦🇺}, a robust, trusted relationship.

Important last words: we do have to be careful to not scapegoat individual folks on our campuses.

This is a complex problem. Let's be nuanced and careful.
#CSPC2020

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