Insights from the Front Line: Open Source Risk, Bots, Disruption and Talent

In this conversation, Byron Connolly, Head of Programs at ADAPT and David Robinson, Co-founder at Internet 2.0 discuss the growing influence of bots and disinformation, especially in political scenarios. David, a leading cyber expert, has worked on multiple high-profile projects, including supporting Ukraine in cyber warfare, combating North Korean hacks and disrupting ransomware gangs. His organisation is involved in the U.S. President’s Counter Ransomware initiative and they also developed the targeting framework for Australia’s disruption policy. David currently leads a project called “Fifth Column,” an AI-based tool that detects bots on social media, which is particularly relevant in the context of U.S. elections where foreign interference remains a threat.

David points out the challenges in cyber security, including the talent shortage in Australia, suggesting that Eastern Europe and the U.S. offer better alternatives for hiring skilled staff. He stresses that state actors infiltrating open-source software projects are a significant, under-acknowledged…