Cyber-Enabled Human Trafficking and Beyond
Introduction
Human Trafficking has been a significant concern and threat to society for a very long time. The aspects of our physical safety also have been influenced by human traffickers and the modus operandi they have adopted and deployed over the years. We are always cautious of younger children in regard to trafficking whenever we go out to crowded or unknown places. This concern and threat have also migrated to cyberspace and now pose new and different tangents of threats. These crimes are committed using technology and are further substantiated by different cybercrimes.
What is Cyber-Enabled Human Trafficking?
Cyber-enabled human trafficking is the new evolution of human trafficking in the digital age. Bad actors lure the victims via the internet and use social engineering to exploit their vulnerabilities to get them into their traps. In today's time, crime is often substantiated in lieu of fake job offers and a better lifestyle in new and major metropolitan cities. Now this crime has gone beyond the geographical boundaries of our nation, and often the victims end up in remote locations in the Middle East or South East Asia.
Cybercrime Hubs in Myanmar
The reports have indicated that a lot of trafficked victims are taken down to various cybercrime hubs in Myanmar. The victims are often lured on the pretext of job offers overseas, which pay handsomely. The victims make their way into the foreign nation but are then cornered by the bad actors and are segregated and taken into different hubs. The victims are often school graduates and seek basic jobs for their earnings. The victims are taken into Cybercrime hubs which Chinese syndicate criminals allegedly run.The victims are kept in tough conditions, beaten up, and held captive in remote jungles. Once the victim has lost hope, the criminals train them to commit cyber frauds like phishing. The victims are given scripts and mobile numbers to commit cybercrimes. The victims are given targets to ensure their survival, and due to the dark and threatening conditions, the victims just give up on the demands just to remain alive. Some of the victims make their way back home as well, but that is after 6-7 years of such constant torture and abuse to commit cybercrimes. The majority of such survivors face trouble seeking legal assistance as the criminals are almost impossible to track, thus making redressal for crimes and rehabilitation for survivors tough.
How to stay safe?
The criminals in such acts often target the vulnerable sector of the population, these people generally hail from tier 3 towns and rural areas. These victims aspire for a better life and earning opportunities, and due to less education and minimal awareness, they fail to see the traps set by the victims. The population at large can deploy the following measures and safe practices to avoid such horrific threats-
- Avoid Stranger interaction: Avoid interacting with strangers on any online platform or portal. Social media sites are the most used platforms by bad actors to make contact with potential victims.
- Do not Share: Avoid sharing any personal information with anyone online, and avoid filling out third-party surveys/forms seeking personal information.
- Check, Check and Recheck: Always be on alert for threats and always check and cross-check any link or platform you use or access.
- Too good to be true: If something feels like Too good to be true, it probably is and hence avoid falling for attractive job offers and work-from-home opportunities on social media platforms.
- Know your helplines: One should know the helpline numbers to make sure to exercise the reporting duty and also encourage your family members to report in case of any threat or issue.
- Raise Awareness: It is the duty of all netizens to raise awareness in society to arm more people against cybercrimes and fraud.
Conclusion
The name of cybercriminals is spreading all across the ecosystems, and now the technology is being deployed by such bad actors to even substantiate physical crimes. We need to be on alert and remain aware of such crimes and the modus Operandi of cyber criminals. Awareness and education are our best weapons to combat the threats and issues of cyber-enabled human trafficking, as the criminals feed on our vulnerabilities, lets eradicate them for once and for all and work towards creating a wholesome safe cyber ecosystem for all.https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3228543/inside-chinese-run-crime-hubs-myanmar-are-conning-world-we-can-kill-you-here
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Disclaimer:
This report is based on extensive research conducted by CyberPeace Research using publicly available information, and advanced analytical techniques. The findings, interpretations, and conclusions presented are based on the data available at the time of study and aim to provide insights into global ransomware trends.
The statistics mentioned in this report are specific to the scope of this research and may vary based on the scope and resources of other third-party studies. Additionally, all data referenced is based on claims made by threat actors and does not imply confirmation of the breach by CyberPeace. CyberPeace includes this detail solely to provide factual transparency and does not condone any unlawful activities. This information is shared only for research purposes and to spread awareness. CyberPeace encourages individuals and organizations to adopt proactive cybersecurity measures to protect against potential threats.
CyberPeace Research does not claim to have identified or attributed specific cyber incidents to any individual, organization, or nation-state beyond the scope of publicly observable activities and available information. All analyses and references are intended for informational and awareness purposes only, without any intention to defame, accuse, or harm any entity.
While every effort has been made to ensure accuracy, CyberPeace Research is not liable for any errors, omissions, subsequent interpretations and any unlawful activities of the findings by third parties. The report is intended to inform and support cybersecurity efforts globally and should be used as a guide to foster proactive measures against cyber threats.
Executive Summary:
The 2024 ransomware landscape reveals alarming global trends, with 166 Threat Actor Groups leveraging 658 servers/underground resources and mirrors to execute 5,233 claims across 153 countries. Monthly fluctuations in activity indicate strategic, cyclical targeting, with peak periods aligned with vulnerabilities in specific sectors and regions. The United States was the most targeted nation, followed by Canada, the UK, Germany, and other developed countries, with the northwestern hemisphere experiencing the highest concentration of attacks. Business Services and Healthcare bore the brunt of these operations due to their high-value data, alongside targeted industries such as Pharmaceuticals, Mechanical, Metal, Electronics, and Government-related professional firms. Retail, Financial, Technology, and Energy sectors were also significantly impacted.
This research was conducted by CyberPeace Research using a systematic modus operandi, which included advanced OSINT (Open-Source Intelligence) techniques, continuous monitoring of Ransomware Group activities, and data collection from 658 servers and mirrors globally. The team utilized data scraping, pattern analysis, and incident mapping to track trends and identify hotspots of ransomware activity. By integrating real-time data and geographic claims, the research provided a comprehensive view of sectoral and regional impacts, forming the basis for actionable insights.
The findings emphasize the urgent need for proactive Cybersecurity strategies, robust defenses, and global collaboration to counteract the evolving and persistent threats posed by ransomware.
Overview:
This report provides insights into ransomware activities monitored throughout 2024. Data was collected by observing 166 Threat Actor Groups using ransomware technologies across 658 servers/underground resources and mirrors, resulting in 5,233 claims worldwide. The analysis offers a detailed examination of global trends, targeted sectors, and geographical impact.
Top 10 Threat Actor Groups:
The ransomware group ‘ransomhub’ has emerged as the leading threat actor, responsible for 527 incidents worldwide. Following closely are ‘lockbit3’ with 522 incidents and ‘play’ with 351. Other Groups are ‘akira’, ‘hunters’, ‘medusa’, ‘blackbasta’, ‘qilin’, ‘bianlian’, ‘incransom’. These groups usually employ advanced tactics to target critical sectors, highlighting the urgent need for robust cybersecurity measures to mitigate their impact and protect organizations from such threats.
Monthly Ransomware Incidents:
In January 2024, the value began at 284, marking the lowest point on the chart. The trend rose steadily in the subsequent months, reaching its first peak at 557 in May 2024. However, after this peak, the value dropped sharply to 339 in June. A gradual recovery follows, with the value increasing to 446 by August. September sees another decline to 389, but a sharp rise occurs afterward, culminating in the year’s highest point of 645 in November. The year concludes with a slight decline, ending at 498 in December 2024 (till 28th of December).
Top 10 Targeted Countries:
- The United States consistently topped the list as the primary target probably due to its advanced economic and technological infrastructure.
- Other heavily targeted nations include Canada, UK, Germany, Italy, France, Brazil, Spain, and India.
- A total of 153 countries reported ransomware attacks, reflecting the global scale of these cyber threats
Top Affected Sectors:
- Business Services and Healthcare faced the brunt of ransomware threat due to the sensitive nature of their operations.
- Specific industries under threats:
- Pharmaceutical, Mechanical, Metal, and Electronics industries.
- Professional firms within the Government sector.
- Other sectors:
- Retail, Financial, Technology, and Energy sectors were also significant targets.
Geographical Impact:
The continuous and precise OSINT(Open Source Intelligence) work on the platform, performed as a follow-up action to data scraping, allows a complete view of the geography of cyber attacks based on their claims. The northwestern region of the world appears to be the most severely affected by Threat Actor groups. The figure below clearly illustrates the effects of this geographic representation on the map.
Ransomware Threat Trends in India:
In 2024, the research identified 98 ransomware incidents impacting various sectors in India, marking a 55% increase compared to the 63 incidents reported in 2023. This surge highlights a concerning trend, as ransomware groups continue to target India's critical sectors due to its growing digital infrastructure and economic prominence.
Top Threat Actors Group Targeted India:
Among the following threat actors ‘killsec’ is the most frequent threat. ‘lockbit3’ follows as the second most prominent threat, with significant but lower activity than killsec. Other groups, such as ‘ransomhub’, ‘darkvault’, and ‘clop’, show moderate activity levels. Entities like ‘bianlian’, ‘apt73/bashe’, and ‘raworld’ have low frequencies, indicating limited activity. Groups such as ‘aps’ and ‘akira’ have the lowest representation, indicating minimal activity. The chart highlights a clear disparity in activity levels among these threats, emphasizing the need for targeted cybersecurity strategies.
Top Impacted Sectors in India:
The pie chart illustrates the distribution of incidents across various sectors, highlighting that the industrial sector is the most frequently targeted, accounting for 75% of the total incidents. This is followed by the healthcare sector, which represents 12% of the incidents, making it the second most affected. The finance sector accounts for 10% of the incidents, reflecting a moderate level of targeting. In contrast, the government sector experiences the least impact, with only 3% of the incidents, indicating minimal targeting compared to the other sectors. This distribution underscores the critical need for enhanced cybersecurity measures, particularly in the industrial sector, while also addressing vulnerabilities in healthcare, finance, and government domains.
Month Wise Incident Trends in India:
The chart indicates a fluctuating trend with notable peaks in May and October, suggesting potential periods of heightened activity or incidents during these months. The data starts at 5 in January and drops to its lowest point, 2, in February. It then gradually increases to 6 in March and April, followed by a sharp rise to 14 in May. After peaking in May, the metric significantly declines to 4 in June but starts to rise again, reaching 7 in July and 8 in August. September sees a slight dip to 5 before the metric spikes dramatically to its highest value, 24, in October. Following this peak, the count decreases to 10 in November and then drops further to 7 in December.
CyberPeace Advisory:
- Implement Data Backup and Recovery Plans: Backups are your safety net. Regularly saving copies of your important data ensures you can bounce back quickly if ransomware strikes. Make sure these backups are stored securely—either offline or in a trusted cloud service—to avoid losing valuable information or facing extended downtime.
- Enhance Employee Awareness and Training: People often unintentionally open the door to ransomware. By training your team to spot phishing emails, social engineering tricks, and other scams, you empower them to be your first line of defense against attacks.
- Adopt Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA): Think of MFA as locking your door and adding a deadbolt. Even if attackers get hold of your password, they’ll still need that second layer of verification to break in. It’s an easy and powerful way to block unauthorized access.
- Utilize Advanced Threat Detection Tools: Smart tools can make a world of difference. AI-powered systems and behavior-based monitoring can catch ransomware activity early, giving you a chance to stop it in its tracks before it causes real damage.
- Conduct Regular Vulnerability Assessments: You can’t fix what you don’t know is broken. Regularly checking for vulnerabilities in your systems helps you identify weak spots. By addressing these issues proactively, you can stay one step ahead of attackers.
Conclusion:
The 2024 ransomware landscape reveals the critical need for proactive cybersecurity strategies. High-value sectors and technologically advanced regions remain the primary targets, emphasizing the importance of robust defenses. As we move into 2025, it is crucial to anticipate the evolution of ransomware tactics and adopt forward-looking measures to address emerging threats.
Global collaboration, continuous innovation in cybersecurity technologies, and adaptive strategies will be imperative to counteract the persistent and evolving threats posed by ransomware activities. Organizations and governments must prioritize preparedness and resilience, ensuring that lessons learned in 2024 are applied to strengthen defenses and minimize vulnerabilities in the year ahead.
Introduction
In a world where Artificial Intelligence (AI) is already changing the creation and consumption of content at a breathtaking pace, distinguishing between genuine media and false or doctored content is a serious issue of international concern. AI-generated content in the form of deepfakes, synthetic text and photorealistic images is being used to disseminate misinformation, shape public opinion and commit fraud. As a response, governments, tech companies and regulatory bodies are exploring ‘watermarking’ as a key mechanism to promote transparency and accountability in AI-generated media. Watermarking embeds identifiable information into content to indicate its artificial origin.
Government Strategies Worldwide
Governments worldwide have pursued different strategies to address AI-generated media through watermarking standards. In the US, President Biden's 2023 Executive Order on AI directed the Department of Commerce and the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) to establish clear guidelines for digital watermarking of AI-generated content. This action puts a big responsibility on large technology firms to put identifiers in media produced by generative models. These identifiers should help fight misinformation and address digital trust.
The European Union, in its Artificial Intelligence Act of 2024, requires AI-generated content to be labelled. Article 50 of the Act specifically demands that developers indicate whenever users engage with synthetic content. In addition, the EU is a proponent of the Coalition for Content Provenance and Authenticity (C2PA), an organisation that produces secure metadata standards to track the origin and changes of digital content.
India is currently in the process of developing policy frameworks to address AI and synthetic content, guided by judicial decisions that are helping shape the approach. In 2024, the Delhi High Court directed the central government to appoint members for a committee responsible for regulating deepfakes. Such moves indicate the government's willingness to regulate AI-generated content.
China, has already implemented mandatory watermarking on all deep synthesis content. Digital identifiers must be embedded in AI media by service providers, and China is one of the first countries to adopt stern watermarking legislation.
Understanding the Technical Feasibility
Watermarking AI media means inserting recognisable markers into digital material. They can be perceptible, such as logos or overlays or imperceptible, such as cryptographic tags or metadata. Sophisticated methods such as Google's SynthID apply imperceptible pixel-level changes that remain intact against standard image manipulation such as resizing or compression. Likewise, C2PA metadata standards enable the user to track the source and provenance of an item of content.
Nonetheless, watermarking is not an infallible process. Most watermarking methods are susceptible to tampering. Aforementioned adversaries with expertise, for instance, can use cropping editing or AI software to delete visible watermarks or remove metadata. Further, the absence of interoperability between different watermarking systems and platforms hampers their effectiveness. Scalability is also an issue enacting and authenticating watermarks for billions of units of online content necessitates huge computational efforts and routine policy enforcement across platforms. Scientists are currently working on solutions such as blockchain-based content authentication and zero-knowledge watermarking, which maintain authenticity without sacrificing privacy. These new techniques have potential for overcoming technical deficiencies and making watermarking more secure.
Challenges in Enforcement
Though increasing agreement exists for watermarking, implementation of such policies is still a major issue. Jurisdictional constraints prevent enforceability globally. A watermarking policy within one nation might not extend to content created or stored in another, particularly across decentralised or anonymous domains. This creates an exigency for international coordination and the development of worldwide digital trust standards. While it is a welcome step that platforms like Meta, YouTube, and TikTok have begun flagging AI-generated content, there remains a pressing need for a standardised policy that ensures consistency and accountability across all platforms. Voluntary compliance alone is insufficient without clear global mandates.
User literacy is also a significant hurdle. Even when content is properly watermarked, users might not see or comprehend its meaning. This aligns with issues of dealing with misinformation, wherein it's not sufficient just to mark off fake content, users need to be taught how to think critically about the information they're using. Public education campaigns, digital media literacy and embedding watermarking labels within user-friendly UI elements are necessary to ensure this technology is actually effective.
Balancing Privacy and Transparency
While watermarking serves to achieve digital transparency, it also presents privacy issues. In certain instances, watermarking might necessitate the embedding of metadata that will disclose the source or identity of the content producer. This threatens journalists, whistleblowers, activists, and artists utilising AI tools for creative or informative reasons. Governments have a responsibility to ensure that watermarking norms do not violate freedom of expression or facilitate surveillance. The solution is to achieve a balance by employing privacy-protection watermarking strategies that verify the origin of the content without revealing personally identifiable data. "Zero-knowledge proofs" in cryptography may assist in creating watermarking systems that guarantee authentication without undermining user anonymity.
On the transparency side, watermarking can be an effective antidote to misinformation and manipulation. For example, during the COVID-19 crisis, misinformation spread by AI on vaccines, treatments and public health interventions caused widespread impact on public behaviour and policy uptake. Watermarked content would have helped distinguish between authentic sources and manipulated media and protected public health efforts accordingly.
Best Practices and Emerging Solutions
Several programs and frameworks are at the forefront of watermarking norms. Adobe, Microsoft and others' collaborative C2PA framework puts tamper-proof metadata into images and videos, enabling complete traceability of content origin. SynthID from Google is already implemented on its Imagen text-to-image model and secretly watermarks images generated by AI without any susceptibility to tampering. The Partnership on AI (PAI) is also taking a leadership role by building out ethical standards for synthetic content, including standards around provenance and watermarking. These frameworks become guides for governments seeking to introduce equitable, effective policies. In addition, India's new legal mechanisms on misinformation and deepfake regulation present a timely point to integrate watermarking standards consistent with global practices while safeguarding civil liberties.
Conclusion
Watermarking regulations for synthetic media content are an essential step toward creating a safer and more credible digital world. As artificial media becomes increasingly indistinguishable from authentic content, the demand for transparency, origin, and responsibility increases. Governments, platforms, and civil society organisations will have to collaborate to deploy watermarking mechanisms that are technically feasible, compliant and privacy-friendly. India is especially at a turning point, with courts calling for action and regulatory agencies starting to take on the challenge. Empowering themselves with global lessons, applying best-in-class watermarking platforms and promoting public awareness can enable the nation to acquire a level of resilience against digital deception.
References
- https://artificialintelligenceact.eu/
- https://www.cyberpeace.org/resources/blogs/delhi-high-court-directs-centre-to-nominate-members-for-deepfake-committee
- https://c2pa.org
- https://www.cyberpeace.org/resources/blogs/misinformations-impact-on-public-health-policy-decisions
- https://deepmind.google/technologies/synthid/
- https://www.imatag.com/blog/china-regulates-ai-generated-content-towards-a-new-global-standard-for-transparency
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Introduction
The Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP) Act, of 2023, introduces a framework for the protection of personal data in India. Data fiduciaries are the entity that essentially determines the purpose and means of processing of personal data. The small-scale industries also fall within the ambit of the term. Startups/Small companies and Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) while determining the purpose of processing of personal data in the capacity of ‘data fiduciary’ are also required to comply with the DPDP Act provisions. The obligations set for the data fiduciary will apply to them unilaterally, though compliance with this Act and can be challenging due to resource constraints and limited expertise in data protection.
DPDP Act, 2023 Section 17(3) gives power to the Central Government to exempt Startups from being obligated to comply with the Act, taking into account the volume and nature of personal data processed. It is the nation's first standalone law on data protection and privacy, which sets forth strict rules on how data fiduciaries can collect and process personal data, focusing on consent-based mechanisms and personal data protection. Small-scale industries are given more time to comply with the DPDP Act. The detailed provisions to be notified in further rulemaking called ‘DPDP rules’.
Obligations on Data Fiduciary under the DPDP Act, 2023
The DPDP Act focuses on processing digital personal data in a manner that recognizes both the right of individuals to protect their personal data and the need to process such personal data for lawful purposes and for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto. Hence, small-scale industries also need to comply with provisions aimed at protecting digital personal data.
The key requirements to be considered:
- Data Processing Principles: Ensuring that data processing is done lawfully, fairly, and transparently. Further, the collection and processing of personal data is only for specific, clear, and legitimate purposes and only the data necessary for the stated purpose. Ensuring that the data is accurate and up to date is also necessary. An important part is that the data is not retained longer than necessary and appropriate security measures are taken to protect the said data.
- Consent Management: Clear and informed consent should be obtained from individuals before collecting their personal data. Further, individuals have the option to withdraw their consent easily.
- Rights of Data Principals: Data principals (individuals) whose data is being collected have the right to Information, the right to correction and erasure of data, the right to grievance redressa, Right to nominate.the right to access, correct, and delete their personal data. Data fiduciaries need to be mindful of mechanisms to handle requests from data principals regarding their concerns.
- Data Breach Notifications: Data fiduciaries are required to notify the data protection board and the affected individuals in case a data breach has occurred.
- Appropriate technical and organisational measures: A Data Fiduciary shall implement appropriate technical and organisational measures to ensure effective observance of the provisions of this Act and the rules made thereunder.Cross-border Data Transfers: Compliance with regulations in relation to the transfer of personal data outside of India should be ensured.
Challenges for Small Scale Industries for the DPDP Act Compliance
While small-scale industries have high aims for their organisational growth and now in the digital age they also need to place reliance on online security measures and handling of personal data, with the DPDP act in the picture it becomes an obligation to consider and comply with. As small-scale industries including MSMEs, they might face certain challenges in fulfilling these obligations but digital data protection measures will also boost the competitive market and customer growth in their business. Bringing reforms in methods aimed at better data governance in today's digital era is significant.
One of the major challenges for small-scale industries could be ensuring a skilled workforce that understands and educates internal stakeholders about the DPDP Act compliances. This could undoubtedly become an additional burden.
Further, the limited resources can make the implementation of data protection, which is oftentimes complex for a layperson in the case of a small-scale industry, difficult to implement. Limitations in resources are often financial or human resources.
Cybersecurity, cyber awareness, and protection from cyber threats need some form of expertise, which is lacking in small enterprises. The outsourcing of such expertise is a decision that is sometimes taken too late, and some form of harm can take place between the periods by which an incident can occur.
Investment in the core business or enterprise many times doesn't include technology other than the basic requirements to run the business, nor towards ensuring that the data is secure and all compliances are met. However, in the fast-moving digital world, all industries need to be mindful of their efforts to protect personal data and proper data governance.
Recommendations
To ensure the proper and effective personal data handling practices as per the provisions of the act, the small companies/startups need to work backend and frontend and ensure that they take adequate measures to comply with the act. While such industries have been given more time to ensure compliance, there are some suggestions for them to be compliant with the new law.
Small companies can ensure compliance with the DPDP Act by implementing robust data protection policies, investing in and providing employee training on data privacy, using age-verification mechanisms, and adopting privacy-by-design principles. Conduct a gap analysis to identify areas where current practices fall short of DPDP Act requirements. Regular audits, secure data storage solutions, and transparent communication with users about data practices are also essential. Use cost-effective tools and technologies for data protection and management.
Conclusion
Small-scale industries must take proactive steps to align with the DPDP Act, 2023 provisions. By understanding the requirements, leveraging external expertise, and adopting best practices, small-scale industries can ensure compliance and protect personal data effectively. In the long run, complying with the new law would lead to greater trust and better business for the enterprises, resulting in a larger revenue share for them.
References
- https://pib.gov.in/PressReleaseIframePage.aspx?PRID=1959161
- https://www.financialexpress.com/business/digital-transformation-dpdp-act-managing-data-protection-compliance-in-businesses-3305293/
- https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/tech/technology/big-tech-coalition-seeks-12-18-month-extension-to-comply-with-indias-dpdp-act/articleshow/104726843.cms?from=mdr
