Today's Headlines and Commentary

Hadley Baker
Tuesday, August 20, 2019, 12:33 PM

Facebook and Twitter removed accounts originating from China that the social media companies say are linked to the spread of disinformation about the protests in Hong Kong,

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Facebook and Twitter removed accounts originating from China that the social media companies say are linked to the spread of disinformation about the protests in Hong Kong, reports the New York Times.

One hundred and twenty-three people were wounded in multiple bombings in the Afghan city of Jalalabad on Monday, writes Reuters. No group has claimed responsibility for the attacks which took place in public squares, markets and restaurants as the country celebrated the 100th anniversary of its independence.

Airstrikes targeted a Turkish army convoy in a rebel-held area of northwestern Syria, killing three civilians and wounding 12 others, according to the Washington Post. The Turkish Defense Ministry said the attack occurred while the convoy was enroute to one of Turkey’s observation posts in the region, while Syria’s Foreign Ministry claimed the vehicles were delivering weapons to rebels.

Russian President Vladimir Putin says there is no threat from the Aug. 8 explosion at a naval weapons testing range—meanwhile the event has prompted international concern about radiation leaks, says the Post.

Prosecutors from a group U.S. states are preparing to move forward with a joint investigation into whether major technology companies, including Google and Facebook, have violated antitrust laws, according to the Wall Street Journal. This comes after the Department of Justice announced last month that it would be reviewing whether these companies are engaging in practices that stifle their competition.

Immigration advocates filed a lawsuit in California against the Trump administration, claiming that Immigration and Customs Enforcement is deliberately and systematically denying medical and mental health care to thousands of migrants in nearly 160 detention facilities throughout the country, reports POLITICO.

ICYMI: Yesterday on Lawfare

Rep. Mike Gallagher of Wisconsin and Sen. Angus King of Maine announced their new Cyberspace Solarium Commission and called on the public for ideas.

Jason Healey explained why the theory of offense-assisted defense is risky and not necessarily the most effective in cyberspace.

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Hadley Baker was an Assistant Editor of Lawfare. She is a recent graduate from the University of St Andrews, studying English literature and Spanish. She was previously an intern at Lawfare.

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