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.
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