The Australian National University (ANU) has alerted the authorities about a suspected hacking incident after discovering that its vice-chancellor’s LinkedIn account interacted with numerous “highly inflammatory” posts concerning Gaza and former foreign minister Julie Bishop.
One of the posts endorsed by Prof. Genevieve Bell’s account was an incendiary comment on Gaza, with another expressing negative sentiments about Bishop, who is both ANU’s chancellor and a former foreign minister. ANU spokesperson confirmed on Wednesday morning that Bell’s LinkedIn account had been “breached.”
The spokesperson also noted that the account had endorsed certain content that Bell had not seen before, some of which was extremely objectionable and at odds with ANU Council’s established values. The spokesperson emphasized that ANU takes such behavior seriously.
An investigation is underway, and the matter has been reported to the Australian Cyber Security Centre. The incident occurred amidst ANU’s restructuring efforts aimed at cutting $100m from staff expenses through its Renew ANU initiative, with the goal of achieving a balanced operating result by 2026.
A journalist, Rick Morton, of The Saturday Paper, informed ANU about a series of questionable endorsements on Bell’s LinkedIn account. He observed that the endorsements were interspersed with typical interactions regarding the university’s operations and Bell’s former Cybernetics school, calling it a “very strange” occurrence. Morton anticipates the outcomes of the investigation.
This incident is unfolding in the wake of an analysis of ANU’s culture released last month, which criticized the institution for sexism, racism, and systemic disrespect in its former College of Health and Medicine, with Bell labeling the report’s findings as “sobering.” In her recent communication to staff regarding the university’s financial situation, Bell acknowledged that the period has been “very tough” for the community, emphasizing the need for respectful dialogue among staff and students. She also reflected on the challenges posed by the Nixon report, ongoing changes, and the complexities of the external environment.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2025/jun/05/anu-investigates-possible-hack-vice-chancellor-genevieve-bell-linkedin-ntwnfb
