THE DAILY PRAETORIAN: Cybersecurity Trends – 9/26/25

Securing Tomorrow: Your Daily Dose of Cyber Safety, Tech Trends, National Security News, and Inspiration.

“Satellite networks today are an Achilles heel of modern societies. Whoever attacks them paralyzes entire nations.”

-Boris Pistorius

Germany unveils $40bn military-space investment, citing new threats
Germany has announced a €35 billion ($41 billion) investment in military-space projects by 2030 to strengthen its ability to protect satellites and build technological independence amid growing threats in orbit. Defense Minister Boris Pistorius unveiled the plan at Berlin’s Space Congress, highlighting that satellite networks are critical vulnerabilities, referencing a Russian cyberattack on ViaSat before the Ukraine invasion. The initiative will fund hardened satellite systems, expanded orbital surveillance, “guardian satellites,” and a Bundeswehr-run military satellite operations center. Pistorius identified Russia and China as potential space adversaries, citing Russian satellites shadowing German-linked Intelsat systems, and declared that Germany must consider developing offensive space capabilities, marking a significant policy shift from its historically defensive stance. With this move, Germany solidifies its position as the world’s fourth-largest defense spender, behind the U.S., China, and Russia. Click here to read more.

YouTube Thinks AI Is Its Next Big Bang
On its 20th anniversary, YouTube is setting its sights on AI-generated video as the platform’s next major leap forward, a shift that could redefine its role in online media. Originally a scrappy startup acquired by Google in 2006 for $1.65 billion, YouTube has since grown into the world’s dominant video hub, paying creators over $100 billion since 2021 and now commanding more than half of its viewing time on living room screens. Analysts estimate YouTube’s standalone value could reach $550 billion, cementing its place as a cultural and financial powerhouse. With AI video tools on the horizon, YouTube is betting big that automated creativity could unlock its next wave of explosive growth. Click here to read more.

God is the source of human rights, not government
Dr. Richard D. Land argues that God, not government, is the true source of human rights, citing the enormous spiritual impact of Charlie Kirk’s life and assassination as part of a broader Christian awakening among America’s youth. He contrasts Senator Tim Kaine’s claim that grounding rights in God is “troubling” with the American founders’ insistence that rights are inherent because people are created in God’s image, not granted by laws or constitutions. Land quotes John Adams and John F. Kennedy to show how America’s stability came from rooting rights in divine authority, unlike the French Revolution, which collapsed without such a foundation. He emphasizes that Charlie Kirk’s movement has helped young people rediscover America’s unique heritage and warns that rights must always be seen as God-given, with government’s role limited to protecting them. Click here to read more.

Moldovans are facing a wave of AI-driven disinformation ahead of crucial election
Moldova is facing an unprecedented wave of AI-driven disinformation campaigns ahead of its parliamentary elections, with researchers attributing the activity to Russian-backed networks seeking to undermine the ruling pro-European Party of Action and Solidarity (PAS). According to a report by Reset Tech, a key platform in the campaign is Restmedia, a slick AI-generated site that daily publishes Russian propaganda and uses “amplification-for-hire” schemes via engagement farms in Africa. Technical analysis linked Restmedia to Rybar, a sanctioned pro-Kremlin outlet, through metadata, file paths, and Moscow-based hosting. False narratives promoted by these networks include claims that Romania plans to annex Moldova, NATO troops are already stationed in the country, and that Prime Minister Maia Sandu is plotting a dictatorship. On TikTok alone, fake accounts have racked up millions of views by manipulating trending algorithms with election-related hashtags. In response, Sandu’s government established a new disinformation countercenter in mid-September, but watchdogs like Promo-Lex and Expert Forum warn that the scale of Russia’s hybrid war—combining election meddling, covert funding, and disinformation—poses a major threat to Moldova’s EU aspirations. Click here to read more.

Netanyahu slams western leaders who recognized Palestinian state at UNGA
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu used his UN General Assembly speech to put the October 7 Hamas massacre at the forefront, declaring that Israel’s war could end immediately if hostages are released, Hamas is disarmed, and Gaza is demilitarized. He accused Western leaders who recently recognized a Palestinian state—including France, Britain, Australia, and Canada—of “disgraceful capitulation” after the Hamas atrocities, vowing that Israel would never accept such a state. Netanyahu showed images of destruction in Israel to defend the country’s military actions and insisted Israel would not apologize for self-defense. His address sparked a walkout by hundreds of diplomats, highlighting Israel’s growing isolation as more nations endorse Palestinian independence. Netanyahu’s remarks were also broadcast into Gaza via seized phones, a move criticized by some hostages’ families as dangerous. He is scheduled to meet U.S. President Donald Trump on Monday before returning to Israel. Click here to read more.