Darknet Diaries 99: The Spy
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Aug 17, 2021 Igor, a private investigator from NYC, and John Scott Railton, a researcher at Citizen Lab, delve into the shadowy world of espionage. Igor shares his experiences of tailing targets and sensing deception during complex operations involving Black Cube. John reveals how he was targeted to undermine his research, exposing the ethical dilemmas of spying and its impact on journalism. The duo navigates the tension of covert meetings and the lengths powerful entities will go to maintain control, shedding light on the dark side of surveillance.
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The Surveillance Gig
- Igor, a private investigator, was hired by Roman Hagen for surveillance work.
- Hagen subcontracted for Black Cube, an Israeli intelligence company.
Targeting Journalists
- Igor's assignments involved surveilling journalists Ronan Farrow and Jody Kantor.
- Black Cube used spam text messages with geolocation tracking to pinpoint Farrow's location.
The Weinstein Connection
- Igor discovered he was indirectly working for Harvey Weinstein, who hired Black Cube to discredit Farrow.
- Farrow was investigating Weinstein's sexual harassment allegations.