Darknet Diaries 105: Secret Cells
64 snips
Nov 23, 2021 
Joseph Cox, Senior Staff Writer at Motherboard and expert in investigative journalism, dives into the realm of encrypted phones. He discusses the challenges users face with privacy on popular devices and explores the rise of Phantom Secure, which marketed phones to criminals. The conversation highlights the balance between privacy and ethical dilemmas arising from their use. Cox also examines law enforcement's controversial operations against encrypted services like EncroChat and the implications for user privacy and security in our digital age.
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
Phantom Secure's Rise and Fall
- Phantom Secure, an encrypted phone company, modified BlackBerrys for secure email and remote wiping.
- Initially popular in Canada's nightlife, it expanded to Australia where organized crime adopted it.
Legality of Encrypted Phones
- Vince Ramos, Phantom Secure's creator, realized criminals used his phones but didn't stop selling to them.
- Selling secure phones is legal, even to criminals, unless the seller knowingly aids in crimes.
Phantom Secure and the Biker Gang Assassination
- One of the first public cases linking a Phantom Secure phone to a crime involved a biker gang assassination.
- The police couldn't get information due to the encryption, prompting investigation into the company.
