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Microsoft Worked With Chinese Military University on AI (irishtimes.com)

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the how-about-that dept.

Microsoft has been working with a Chinese military-run university on AI research that could be used for surveillance and censorship. From a report: Three papers, published between March and November last year, were co-written by academics at Microsoft Research Asia in Beijing and researchers with affiliations to China's National University of Defense Technology (NUDR), which is controlled by China's top military body, the Central Military Commission. Samm Sacks, a senior fellow at the New America think-tank and a China tech policy expert, said the papers raised "red flags because of the nature of the technology, the author affiliations, combined with what we know about how this technology is being deployed in China right now." "The [Chinese]government is using these technologies to build surveillance systems and to detain minorities [in Xinjiang]," she added.

11 of 40 comments (clear)

  1. As the saying goes in China by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

    "nobody ever got executed for buying Microsoft"

  2. Wow, the Chinese collaborated with the Chinese by RhettLivingston · · Score: 2

    co-written by academics at Microsoft Research Asia in Beijing and researchers with affiliations to China’s National University of Defense Technology

    When it comes to AI and a growing number of other areas, the Chinese are no slouches. This is why MS has research groups in China. They are taking advantage of Chinese talent. It is likely that MS gained more knowledge about AI from China in this case than they did from us, though I don't know what firewalls China may have required between MS's research groups in China and those in the US. There may very well be export controls on what that group can transmit to the home company.

    1. Re:Wow, the Chinese collaborated with the Chinese by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      Yeah, you must be right. Microsoft execs must not have any idea that this was going on. Microsoft involved in an oppressive foreign government's program of facial recognition which is already well known to be deployed against its own citizens. And, helping said government's military in programs that might compromise the national security of its rival, the United States, couldn't possibly be important enough to filter up to the executive level.

      Bullshit. Microsoft just got caught doing what Google was caught considering doing. Google caught a shit storm. Now, apparently, Microsoft has loosed their shill army* in damage control.

      *Microsoft's shill army has recently grown with changes to the MVP program that require shilling in social media to get brownie points to maintain MVP status. These new MS shills are even unpaid for shilling. We, know what the M in MVP stands for-- "morons".

  3. anybody surprised? by WindBourne · · Score: 2

    This is MS. Add in Google, FB, and not surprised that when Chinese gov says Bend Over, they do it.
    these assholes are simply handing over everything like GM, Ford, and Chrysler did.

    --
    I prefer the "u" in honour as it seems to be missing these days.
  4. Has been by WillAffleckUW · · Score: 1

    I think you meant to say "has been", not "could be".

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    -- Tigger warning: This post may contain tiggers! --
  5. How is this different than IBM working with Nazis? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    I see little difference between modern China and 1930s Germany.

  6. That explains it by Tablizer · · Score: 1

    No wonder Chinese tanks are better at identifying cats.

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    Table-ized A.I.
    1. Re:That explains it by Type44Q · · Score: 1

      Even Chinese tank crews gotta eat...

  7. Re:Where is all the "Trump is going to prison" cra by Type44Q · · Score: 1

    hinting

    Yep, that's certainly the key word.

  8. Re:U need to...They are already in China... by Type44Q · · Score: 1

    Shilling rule #3 (no, I haven't figured out #2 and 3 yet): don't be so fucking obvious about it. Even if you are Chinese.

  9. If it's ok for the Usa, it's okay for china by edris90 · · Score: 1

    It doesn't really matter which national entity you are helping,. hey bro utilize the same philosophies of control, social manipulation, and systemic oppression to maintain their power bases. Two peas in a pod trash-talking the other and attempt to distract from their own bulshit.