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The U.S. is trying to unravel a hacking plot that targeted climate activists

In Legal News, Data Breach News
January 27, 2025
The U.S. is trying to unravel a hacking plot that targeted climate activists

NPR reports that a U.S. Justice Department investigation of a global hacking campaign that targeted prominent American climate activists took a turn in court this week due to an allegation that the hacking was ordered by a lobbying firm working for ExxonMobil.

The hacking was allegedly commissioned by a Washington, D.C., lobbying firm, according to a lawyer representing the U.S. government. The firm, in turn, was allegedly working on behalf of one of the world’s largest oil and gas companies, based in Texas, that wanted to discredit groups and individuals involved in climate litigation, according to the lawyer for the U.S. government. In court documents, the Justice Department does not name either company.

As part of its probe, the U.S. is trying to extradite an Israeli private investigator named Amit Forlit from the United Kingdom for allegedly orchestrating the hacking campaign. A lawyer for Forlit claimed in a court filing that the hacking operation her client is accused of leading “is alleged to have been commissioned by DCI Group, a lobbying firm representing ExxonMobil, one of the world’s largest fossil fuel companies.”

Both the lobbying firm and ExxonMobil have denied any awareness of or involvement with alleged hacking.

Read more at NPR.

DeSmog provides additional details.