Future Crimes Week 10: Chapter 16

Chapter 16: Next-Generation Security Threats: Why Cyber Was Only the Beginning

Nearly Intelligent: Many of the programs that we are using today are reliant on algorithmic artificial intelligence. This variant of A.I. uses algorithms in order to improve certain services.

Talk to My Agent: Many of these programs are increasingly being used to interpret data in different fields.

“But what do we really know about these algorithms and the mathematical processes behind them? Precious little, as it turns out”.

I fear that this along with the in-screen we trust mentality that was discussed in the preceding chapters will lead to a lot of professionals in other fields believing the data they see without evaluating it for themselves.

Black-Box Algorithms and the Fallacy of Math Neutrality: Algorithms play a very important role in many of the services and devices that we rely on in society. Many decisions are being made for us with the use of these algorithms without us knowing. From algorithmic credit scoring to algorithmic dating, we rely on these automated algorithms more than we realize.

“The near-total lack of transparency in the algorithms that run the world means that we the people have no insight and no say into profoundly important decisions being made about us and for us”

Al-gorithm Capone and His AI Crime Bots: Algorithmic artificial intelligence can also enable Crime Inc. and make it much easier for them to further their interests.

“The unparalleled levels of sophisticated criminal automation enabled by artificial intelligence are why annual losses since attributable to cyber crime have skyrocketed to more than $400 billion”

When Watson Turns to a Life of Crime: Goodman discusses a supercomputer called Watson that was able to defeat two jeopardy champions and formulate answers to a level above some of those that are the best at the game. When put in the wrong hands, Watson could potentially be a catalyst for a variety of different cyber crimes.

This chapter brought me back to a discussion from Internet and Society where we discussed whether technology was inherently evil, and I still stand with the argument of having it depend on the hands of those who are using it. While some argue that some future innovations in technology may go too far, they are also able to go far in the right direction. While Watson can be used for more malicious purposes, he can also be used for the convenience of many in a more productive sense.

Man’s Last Invention: Artificial General Intelligence: There comes a point where artificial intelligence is able to exceed human intelligence making it our last invention. While this may seem impossible, there have been many predictions made that were proven wrong in the future

The Al-pocalypse: A.I. has the potential to be able to completely control society if it ever reaches the tipping point where their intelligence surpasses ours. While A.I. is not inherently evil, it is possible that it can perform evil actions based on the algorithm it was given.

“Whereas the short-term impact of AI depends on who controls it, the long-term impact depends on whether it can be controlled at all”.

Over time, we have been slowly being enslaved by technology. The industrial revolution started our reliance on machines in the work place, and now we have it everywhere we go in the form of smartphones. The next evolution of this trend is artificial intelligence, and this time it might be the last evolution as it will completely take over our lives.

How to Build a Brain: Advances in neurobiology can lead to a much more coherent understanding of the brain and its anatomy. At the same time, integrating artificial intelligence and other technology into the brain exposes it to the same vulnerabilities that any other device connected to the IoT would be exposed to.

“There will be no limits to the size of its brain. While the brainpower of Homo sapient is limited by what fits inside our cranium so, that restriction would not apply to an artificial intelligence capable of having a brain of any size-another reason some believe artificial superhuman intelligence may be our destiny”

I think that this movement may actually be closer than we think it is. Currently we are seeing basic versions of this software in the form of things like Siri for iOS and Alexa for Amazon. If we apply Moore’s law, I can definitely see devices carrying twice the capabilities that our current devices have.

Tapping Into Genius: Brain-Computer Interface: In addition to new software that can control our digital lives, the integration of technology into our brain can also control our physical space. “EEG headsets such as the Eotiv and the NeuroSky, which for under $300 can bring mind control to everything from video games to moving the physical objects around us, including robots”.

Mind Reading, Brain Warrants, and Neurohackers: These devices are also passing our boundaries of privacy. Certain devices are using our brain waves in order to forcefully extract information from us. Hackers having access to these devices leave us with no way to fight against us as they will literally be aware of our every thought and potential action.

“While you were using your ultra-chic biosensor EEG to play Pong, move objects on the IoT, control your quadcopter drone, and snap a photograph with Google Glass using the awesome power of your mind, what would inhibit a third party from remotely dialing in and doing the same? As we have seen time and time again throughout this book — absolutely nothing.”

Apart from hackers, it is certain that the government would also be very interested in these devices. If they can subtly implement these devices into society, scanning and downloading our thoughts as we go about our lives, the boundary of privacy will be completely shattered, and we would need another Edward Snowden to save us.

Biology Is Information Technology: Our DNA is playing a more important role in information technology as devices become more and more advanced. DNA sequencing is becoming more and more accessible, and with this, even hiding our own genetic makeup may be a problem in the future.

“When this happens, each of us (and many companies) will have the opportunity to know our full genetic makeup, a development with radical implications for medicine and our own health care. These drastic price drops aren’t happening just in reading DNA”

This will have catastrophic effects on the structure of society if it ever becomes true. Institutions will only select those that they believe to be genetically superior leaving those who have less desirable genes in the dust. At the same time, the data will probably come in the form of a computer screen which can easily be altered by a hacker who wants to improve his genetic makeup. The value of hackers will continue to rise as data becomes a more important factor in every aspect of life.

Bio-Computers and DNA Hard Drives: Bio-computers allow us to revolutionize DNA by reprograming certain attriutes. “The ability to reprogram DNA and engineer biology holds tremendous promise for mankind to solve some of the world’s most intracable problems in the fields of medicine, agriculture, energy and the environment”.

“But with this new godlike power to create comes godlike responsibility”

Jurassic Park for Reals: The God-like powers bestowed upon humanity by technology even extends to the power of resurrection. Genetic engineering allows for the re-creation of DNA which has the potential of bringing back animals that have been extinct, but have left behind samples of DNA.

Invasion of the Bio-snatchers: Genetic Privacy, Bioethics, and DNA Stalkers: With the focus of technology on DNA, a new set of technological devices will change the landscape in different parts of society. DNA which was previously semi-vulnerable is now completely out in the open.

“The 1997 film Gattaca takes place in the near future and portrays a world in which the wealthy conceive their children through eugenics, genetic manipulation ensuring citizens only possess “the best” genetic traits. Those born outside the system face a life of genetic discrimination and limited job opportunities. It was meant to be a science fiction movie. Today it may not be”.

This was the movie that I informed you about earlier in the semester. It tells the story of a man who dreams of travelling to space but is not genetically qualified to do so. To overcome this boundary he switches identities with a wealthy, more genetically qualified man in order to finally achieve his dream.

“This DNA can be recovered, replicated, and sequenced at will by anybody with the means and desire to do so, and as the price of genetic sequencing drops toward zero, it will be a growing concern we will all have to face”.

DNA replication and sequencing is a terrifying thought to entertain as literally everything that we are as a person is in our DNA. If one were to be able to obtain a copy of our DNA, they would be able to reproduce it, alter it, and even share it with others. As Goodman also points out further in the chapter, the reliability of DNA in court will be next to none as it can be easily altered and falsified. One of the most trusted types of evidence that we use today will no longer valid, leaving us with little to no options that are concrete.

Bio-cartels and the New Opiates for the Masses: Old-world criminals are also be able to benefit from these DNA exploits as well. Drug cartels for example may use altered DNA in order to more efficiently grow their products. Viruses and other deadly bacteria may also be synthetically produced to a large degree.

Hacking the Software of Life: Bio-Crime and Bioterrorism: Terrorism and Biology are able to complement each other as terrorist groups are able to simply “download the genetic sequence blueprints and print these deadly viruses themselves”. Apart from being able to re-create these viruses, they are also able to weaponize its power and genetically alter them to be more destructive than they already are.

Out of everything brought up in the book, I think that this is what worries me the most. Firstly, this technology really does not seem far off, as advancements in biology are rapidly increasing each and every day. Second, we have seen the effects of disease in so many previous wars, and more often than not, they are able to take more lives than the actual warfare between soldiers. Lastly, my biggest concern is that every nation adapts to using these tactics. If one nation decides that they want to implement this technology into their military, the rest of the world will have no choice but to adapt this same technology as well. At that rate, we might not even reach the point where artificial intelligence can annihilate us, as we will do it to ourselves.

The Final Frontier: Space, Nano, and Quantum: A lot of our services are dependent on satellites in space that are able to power different services. As more devices join the IoT, more and more devices are joining this network. Scientific research into space is able to fuel Crime Inc. as they are able to adapt the same technologies to do their bidding. Research into nanotechnology for example will make hostile devices be smaller and more undetectable. More powerful pieces of technology may possibly overwhelm us as we willingly hand over more power to them by putting our trust in their functionality. Quantum computers for example may “perform a huge number of calculations that leverage the counterintuitive nature of quantum mechanics to drive directly to the answers of very complex questions”. Goodman puts it best when says “Day 29 is rapidly approaching. What are we going to do about it”.