Amazon's chief security officer says the tech giant blocked over 1,800 suspected North Korean agents from applying for jobs (www.businessinsider.com)

Amazon has successfully blocked over 1,800 job applications from suspected North Korean agents in the past 20 months, leveraging AI technology to screen candidates more effectively. According to Stephen Schmidt, Amazon's chief security officer, these agents are targeting high-demand remote tech roles with the apparent goal of securing employment to fund their regime's weapons programs. The screening process employs an AI model that identifies ties to around 200 "high-risk institutions" while analyzing anomalies within the applications, subsequently verified by human reviewers through background checks and interviews. This significant intervention highlights the increasing threat posed by North Korean operatives attempting to infiltrate the global tech workforce. Amazon's innovative use of AI tools in conjunction with human oversight serves as a potential model for other organizations facing similar threats, especially as fraudsters become more sophisticated—often using "laptop farms" and dormant profiles to appear legitimate. The rising number of North Korean-linked applications, which surged by 27% this year alone, signals a broader challenge within the industry that requires heightened vigilance and enhanced validation processes to protect against security breaches and illicit activities.