The Lawfare Podcast Chatter: The Largest Sting Operation of All Time with Joseph Cox
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Jul 9, 2024 
Award-winning journalist Joseph Cox discusses the FBI's Anom sting operation, revealing how the agency used a fake tech startup to infiltrate criminal networks, leading to a global pursuit by Europol. He also shares insights on the rise and fall of Anom, international collaboration in law enforcement, and the challenges faced by journalists reporting on technology and organized crime.
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Tech Journalism Origin
- Joseph Cox's interest in tech journalism started with early computer experiences and covering cybercrime.
- Snowden's revelations further catalyzed his focus on privacy, surveillance, and data sales.
Impactful Investigation
- Cox's investigations into cell phone location data sales led to significant fines for telcos.
- He paid a bounty hunter $300 to verify the data's accessibility, triggering policy changes.
Anom's Secret
- Anom, an encrypted app marketed to criminals, was secretly run by the FBI.
- This operation became the largest law enforcement sting ever, intercepting criminal communications globally.