Are certain groups being targeted?
Sources:
Certain groups are indeed being targeted in various contexts. Here are some key instances:
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Financial and Environmental Sectors: A series of cyberattacks targeted financial analysts, short sellers, and environmental NGOs who were critical of financial misconduct, particularly surrounding Wirecard. Specific clusters included international targets and American environmental NGOs such as Greenpeace and the Rockefeller Family Fund 1.
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Minority Religious Groups: Jews have been historically and continue to be targeted by anti-Semitic hate crimes. Scott Galloway points out that while fascist rhetoric often targets minorities, the Jews particularly face a high volume of such crimes both in the US and globally. The narrative of blaming societal issues on minority groups remains a common tactic of authoritarian regimes 2.
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Human Rights Activists: Activists like Ahmed Mansoor, who speak out against oppressive regimes, are frequently targeted by state-sponsored hacking. In Mansoor’s case, he repeatedly faced attacks due to his activism, revealing ongoing threats against those advocating for human rights 3.
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Political Groups: There's growing concern over the targeting of Trump supporters by the FBI, particularly leading up to elections. Reports indicate that Trump supporters and traditional Catholics are labeled as potential domestic terrorists, causing significant controversy 4.
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Advertising Targeting: Women, especially those aged 18-35, who have histories of disordered eating, are commonly targeted by weight loss ads. These ads exploit vulnerabilities and have been the subject of discussions in online communities and research studies 5.
These examples highlight the diverse and pervasive nature of targeted harassment and surveillance across different sectors and groups.
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