A decade-long legal saga unfolds as a US trial takes center stage, poised to reveal the identity of those behind a hacking scandal targeting Exxon climate critics. The case, a complex web of corporate intrigue and political influence, has left a trail of phishing emails and a group of activists on the edge of their seats, eagerly awaiting the truth. The trial's outcome could have far-reaching implications, shedding light on the dark underbelly of corporate lobbying and the lengths to which some entities will go to protect their interests.
The story begins with a group of American climate activists, their eyes fixed on a US court case that promises to expose the culprits behind a decade-old hacking scandal. In 2015, a bombshell revelation shook the environmental movement: ExxonMobil's own scientists had determined as early as 1982 that fossil fuel extraction and burning were causing the climate crisis. Yet, Exxon continued to fund climate denial campaigns, sparking investigations by attorneys general. As climate activists sought to hold Exxon accountable, they found themselves victims of a sophisticated hacking operation.
Kert Davies, founder of the Climate Investigations Center, received over 80 phishing emails, including one pretending to be a colleague sharing a confidential ExxonMobil document. A Department of Justice investigation confirmed the hacking of over 100 victims, including Exxon critics. The mystery deepened as details about the mastermind behind the operation remained elusive.
The turning point came with the extradition and arraignment of Israeli private investigator Amit Forlit in a US federal court. Court documents alleged that Forlit, facing hacking and wire fraud charges, had been hired by a firm representing Exxon. The revelation sent shockwaves through the climate community, as Forlit's lawyer, in a filing against extradition, named the alleged client as DCI Group, a lobbying firm with a long-standing relationship with Exxon.
The unsealed indictment from the US attorney's office further implicated DCI Group, alleging that a lobbying firm working on behalf of an oil giant matching Exxon's description hired Forlit for a hacking project. Reuters reported that the FBI had also investigated DCI Group regarding the operation. Public documents revealed Exxon's significant lobbying expenditures, including over $3 million to DCI Group in 2015, the year the hacking was allegedly commissioned.
DCI Group and Exxon denied involvement, with Exxon stating it had not been involved in any hacking activities and condemning such actions. DCI Group's partner, Craig Stevens, claimed his firm had no knowledge of the alleged hacking and was not under investigation. Forlit, through his lawyer, pleaded not guilty and declined to comment.
The Department of Justice's years-long effort culminated in the arrest of Aviram Azari, an Israeli private investigator, in 2019. Azari, who pleaded guilty to hacking charges in 2022, played a critical role in executing a massive hacking campaign, targeting thousands of people worldwide, with clients paying him over $4.8 million. The government's sentencing memo revealed that some stolen documents were leaked to the press, and articles about those documents were incorporated into Exxon's court filings.
The unsealed indictment in April 2024 alleged that Forlit was a leader of a cybercriminal enterprise, working with co-conspirators in the US, UK, Israel, and India. It connected Forlit and Azari to DCI Group and ExxonMobil, alleging that in 2015, the client asked the lobbying firm for help responding to civil investigations related to climate change. A memo outlined a plan for gathering intelligence, and Forlit proposed a $125,000 monthly budget for the project.
Prosecutors alleged that Forlit contracted Azari and hackers, who successfully breached climate advocates' accounts in 2016 and 2017. The stolen materials were funneled through Azari and Forlit to the lobbying firm and used in lobbying and legal proceedings. Forlit's firms allegedly earned $7 million between 2014 and 2017, including for the climate hack.
The trial's outcome hangs in the balance, with activists like Jennifer Cunningham and Lee Wasserman eagerly awaiting the revelation of those behind the hacking operation. The case has had a chilling effect on their efforts, prompting a shift from email to phone calls and heightened security concerns. As the trial unfolds, the activists' hope lies in uncovering the truth, holding the perpetrators accountable, and ensuring that such corporate deception never again goes unchallenged.
