ISMG Editors: Abandoned Identities Fuel Shadow Market

Also: Australia's AI Policy Backtrack, Legal Protections for White Hat Hackers Anna Delaney (annamadeline) • December 12, 2025

In this week's panel, four ISMG editors explored Australia's shift in artificial intelligence regulatory policy, a resurgence of white hat hackers in the news and the Telegram-based darknet market of Russian fraudsters who are selling identities of former U.S. immigrants for $1,000 a person.

See Also: Agentic AI and the Future of Automated Threats

The panelists - Anna Delaney, director, productions; Tony Morbin, executive news editor, EU; Rashmi Ramesh, senior associate editor; and Suparna Goswami, executive editor - discussed:

• How Australia softened its AI governance approach, shifting from a tough, enforceable regulatory framework to a voluntary, principles-based model that critics say prioritizes innovation over accountability and enforcement;
• The renewed global focus on white hat hackers, and how outdated cybercrime laws are criminalizing ethical security research and why governments are now ...