AI-powered
podcast player
Listen to all your favourite podcasts with AI-powered features
4min snip
How the FBI built its own smartphone company to hack the criminal underworld
Decoder with Nilay Patel
The End of the Encrypted Phone Gold Rush
- The FBI's crackdown on Phantom Secure marked the end of a decade-long 'gold rush' for encrypted phone providers catering to criminals.
- The lavish parties and easy money came to an abrupt halt around 2018 as the industry realized the risks.
- Some providers fled, others cooperated with authorities, and some simply shut down, recognizing the ethical implications.
- Selling encrypted phones isn't inherently illegal, but knowingly facilitating criminal networks is where the line is crossed.
- This shift in the market created a void that the FBI would eventually fill themselves.
00:00
Transcript
Episode notes
Get the Snipd
podcast app
Unlock the knowledge in podcasts with the podcast player of the future.
AI-powered
Discover
highlights
Listen to the best highlights from the podcasts you love and dive into the full episode
Save any
moment
Hear something you like? Tap your headphones to save it with AI-generated key takeaways
Share
& Export
Send highlights to Twitter, WhatsApp or export them to Notion, Readwise & more
AI-powered
podcast player
Listen to all your favourite podcasts with AI-powered features
Discover
highlights
Listen to the best highlights from the podcasts you love and dive into the full episode