Journalist Joseph Cox, author of 'Dark Wire,' dives into the FBI's audacious operation with a fake cell phone company aimed at criminals. He details how law enforcement turned the tables on encrypted messaging by creating Anom, a phone disguised as a calculator app. The fascinating negotiation with the CEO of Phantom Secure shows the intricate dance of crime and tech. Cox uncovers the complexities of the FBI's unprecedented venture into bringing down criminal networks and the lasting impact of this bold digital sting.
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question_answer ANECDOTE
The Almost Backdoor
The FBI tried to get a backdoor into Phantom Secure's servers by negotiating with their CEO, Vincent Ramos.
However, Ramos escaped FBI custody and shut down a key server, thwarting the initial plan.
insights INSIGHT
A New Approach
After the failed attempt with Phantom Secure, the FBI considered running its own encrypted phone company.
This would give them complete control and a direct backdoor into criminal communications.
question_answer ANECDOTE
Anom's Birth
The FBI partnered with a confidential source who already had a reputation in the criminal world.
They named the company Anom and designed the app to be hidden behind a fake calculator app.
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The Incredible True Story of the Largest Sting Operation Ever
Joseph Cox
Dark Wire recounts the story of Anom, a secure communications app secretly run by the FBI, which allowed law enforcement to monitor tens of thousands of criminals worldwide, including members of drug cartels, the mafia, and other organized crime groups. The book reveals the intricate details of this global sting operation, highlighting the technological and ethical complexities involved. It follows the agents and criminals as they navigate this high-stakes game, ultimately leading to a massive international crackdown on criminal activities.
There is a constant arms race between law enforcement and criminals, especially when it comes to technology. For years, law enforcement has been frustrated with encrypted messaging apps, like Signal and Telegram. And law enforcement has been even more frustrated by encrypted phones, specifically designed to thwart authorities from snooping.
But in 2018, in a story that seems like it's straight out of a spy novel, the FBI was approached with an offer: Would they like to get into the encrypted cell phone business? What if they could convince criminals to use their phones to plan and document their crimes — all while the FBI was secretly watching? It could be an unprecedented peek into the criminal underground.
To pull off this massive sting operation, the FBI needed to design a cell phone that criminals wanted to use and adopt. Their mission: to make a tech platform for the criminal underworld. And in many ways, the FBI's journey was filled with all the hallmarks of many Silicon Valley start-ups.
On this show, we talk with journalist Joseph Cox, who wrote a new book about the FBI's cell phone business, called Dark Wire. And we hear from the federal prosecutor who became an unlikely tech company founder. Help support Planet Money and hear our bonus episodes by subscribing to Planet Money+ in Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org/planetmoney.
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