Gregory Carpenter, DrPH’s Post

This article is fine till the last sentence when the laws protect the guilty. CHINESE GRADUATE STUDENT PLEADS GUILTY TO DRONE PHOTOGRAPHY ESPIONAGE CHARGES In a landmark case, Fengyun Shi, a Chinese graduate student, has pleaded guilty to charges under the Espionage Act for using a drone to photograph classified U.S. Navy vessels. This marks the first known conviction under a World War II-era statute prohibiting aircraft photography of sensitive military sites, as reported by The Verge. The Drone Incident Shi's Legal troubles began in January 2024 when his drone became stuck in a tree near the Newport News Shipyard in Virginia. A suspicious neighbor alerted the Police, leading to Shi's questioning and eventual fleeing from the scene, abandoning the drone. FBI Investigation Uncovers Sensitive Images The FBI's examination of the seized drone revealed images of U.S. Navy ships, including next-generation aircraft carriers and nuclear submarines under construction at the Newport News Shipyard and nearby BAE Systems facilities. These vessels contain classified components, raising national security concerns. Novel Application of the Espionage Act Shi was charged with six misdemeanors under the Espionage Act, specifically violating a statute that bans the use of aircraft for photographing sensitive military sites. National security law expert Emily Berman noted the uniqueness of this case, stating: “This appears to be the first known prosecution under a WWII-era statute banning the use of aircraft to photograph sensitive military sites.” Guilty Plea and Potential Consequences On July 12, 2024, Shi pleaded guilty to two counts of violating the statute. Each offense carries a potential sentence of up to one year in prison, a $100,000 fine, and an additional year of supervised release. The plea agreement also mentions the possibility of deportation, with an option for Shi to apply for asylum if he fears torture in China.

What a great group of folks in my workshop on Creative Problem Solving! HOPE conference is great as always!

Another amazing moment, and many congratulations to John D. Johnson!

Here at HOPE.net in NYC, crazy crowd! I know these guys!

Interesting piece on the quest for eternal life. Research shows that people are becoming less intelligent, there is a 50+ year decline in IQ since 1970, but they are trying to live longer while eating worse. 🤷

Interesting story of an augumented ethical hacker. Barns and Noble is offering a 25% discount on pre-orders of Len Noe’s upcoming book Human Hacked. Use promo code: PREORDER25 Offer good through July 17th 2024 https://lnkd.in/eVNGhqNS

Please stop in my workshop tomorrow on Creative Problem Solving at Hackers on Planet Earth, a good time for all!! https://lnkd.in/ezXmtrSY

Going to #Defcon this year? Stop in the Adversary Village, great stuff lined up. You can even get a chance to catch my talk on Advesarial philosophy. I am focusing on China and Russia in this talk. https://lnkd.in/eaTDj4H7

Wow, a great deal. I hear this piece is pretty interesting. You can hand it to anyone and they would get it. Plain language.

This is a hot topic, always!