Today, at the outset of the congressional hearing on the Fentanyl Crisis and the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), the chairman of the committee, Representative Mike Gallagher, presented a seven-minute video. This video captures the direct involvement of the CCP in subsidizing illegal fentanyl manufacturing and encouraging its distribution outside of China. I urge you to take the time to watch it. It is a gripping video. Video transcript. Video of today’s entire 3-hour hearing. Disclaimer: IPProbe.Global is a service to the professional IP community. While every effort has been made to ..read more

The U.S. Congress, Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), has announced a hearing scheduled for tomorrow, Tuesday, April 16th, at 8:00 a.m., focusing on “The CCP’s Role in the Fentanyl Crisis.” This issue has been on my radar since 2019, and I’ve penned several posts about it. (See attached links below.) Back in November 2019, the death toll in the U.S. due to fentanyl overdose stood at 30,000. Fast forward to 2022, as per the 2023 DOJ announcement, and that number has surged to a staggering 110,000 Americans. Last year, the U.S. Department of Justice made headlines with indic ..read more

Earlier this month, reports emerged of a Chinese employee at Google who allegedly downloaded over 500 confidential AI software files, transferred them to his personal account, and purportedly aimed to benefit two Chinese companies. This incident is emblematic of a recurring pattern—Chinese nationals working for American firms pilfering trade secrets and sharing them with Chinese entities they are affiliated with. One notable aspect of this case is the accused’s brazenness in touting access to Google AI secrets while courting potential investors in China. According to a U.S. Department of Just ..read more

On January 31st, leaders in U.S. cybersecurity testified before the House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). The focus was on the fundamental flaws in the nation’s critical infrastructure and the urgent need for action. While the takedown of the Chinese hacking operation Volt Typhoon made headlines, the broader issues addressed by the heads of the FBI, CISA, NSA, Cyber Command, and the ONCD (Office of the National Cyber Director) deserve equal attention. FBI Director’s Major Announcement: FBI Director Chris Wray unveiled the operation against Volt Typhoon, a state-sponsore ..read more

Earlier this month, a UK Private Investigations firm shared a timely and insightful article highlighting the concerning trend of bad actors seeking the assistance of private investigators to carry out their covert activities. The article, titled “Overseas Instructions: A ‘Clean and Present Danger’ to UK PIs,” sheds light on the potential risks involved. Authored by Dick Smith, Co-Director of IP Forensics (GB) Ltd based in Bristol, the article was initially published on their website and subsequently reposted on the Association of British Investigators website. The piece effectively delves int ..read more

Last month, the BBC published a report shedding light on the unsettling ways scammers could leverage Open AI’s ChatGPT builder platform. The implications are worrisome. The BBC outlined how the ChatGPT builder platform can be trained to produce language designed to deceive others, In their experiment, BBC News subscribed to the paid version of ChatGPT, costing £20 per month, and created a private bespoke AI bot named Crafty Emails. The bot was instructed to generate text using techniques aimed at persuading individuals to click on links or download files. The report delved into five classic s ..read more

Ten days ago, the U.S. Congress Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) concluded its last hearing of 2023, shedding light on a pressing concern. Chaired by Representative Mike Gallagher (R-Wisconsin) and co-chaired by Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-Michigan), the committee delved into the topic of Transnational Repression (TNR). NOTE: IP Probe Blog started coverage of this alarming issue in November 2020. One of several noteworthy exchanges during the hearing involved Rep. Krishnamoorthi’s inquiry about the utilization of private investigators by the CCP to surveil, harass, and repress ..read more

Recently, the International Counter Ransomware Initiative (CRI) wrapped up its 3rd Summit. This event received extensive coverage in the media, with notable interviews and discussions, including insights from representatives of member countries and Anne Neuberger, the U.S. Deputy National Security Advisor. You can watch the CSIS video-interview and explore various reports on the summit through the embedded links. In this post, we’ll highlight four significant aspects that stood out in the ongoing battle against ransomware. 1. No More Ransom Payments: One of the most significant outcomes was t ..read more

Last month, the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reported on the challenges business executives could face when traveling to China. TROUBLING TREND There have been more and more incidents of executives doing business in China being detained. This is becoming a more and more alarming trend. One of the more prominent examples is the Kroll executive, who has not been able to leave since September 29th. Two weeks ago, news broke that the Chinese government formally arrested a Japanese drug manufacturing executive who had been detained since March. SOFT INTERROGATION At the very least, Dale Buckner, CEO ..read more

Introduction: Ten days ago, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) dropped a bombshell, announcing the indictment of eight Chinese chemical companies and twelve individuals. The charge? Continuing to ship the raw materials, known as precursors, used in the creation of fentanyl. Fentanyl remains a devastating issue in the United States, and despite growing international concern, the People’s Republic of China (PRC) has yet to put a halt to these deadly shipments. Alarming Revelations: The recent announcement unearthed several deeply unsettling issues. Not only are these Chinese chemical companie ..read more