A decade-long legal saga, centered around a US court case, is poised to shed light on a dark chapter in the history of climate activism. The trial, which has climate activists on the edge of their seats, aims to uncover the identity of those behind a sophisticated hacking operation that targeted Exxon climate critics. This incident, which occurred around 2016, involved a series of phishing emails and has now escalated into a high-stakes legal battle.
The case began when a group of climate activists, led by Kert Davies of the Climate Investigations Center, found themselves under attack. Over 80 phishing emails, some pretending to be colleagues sharing sensitive documents, were sent to Davies and his colleagues. This prompted a Department of Justice investigation, which confirmed the hacking of over 100 victims, including the Exxon critics.
The mystery deepened as details about the mastermind behind the operation remained elusive. However, a significant development occurred this spring with the extradition and arraignment of Israeli private investigator Amit Forlit in a US federal court. Court documents revealed that Forlit was hired by a firm representing Exxon, suggesting a direct link between the oil giant and the hacking.
Forlit, facing up to 45 years in prison, has pleaded not guilty. His lawyer, in a filing against his extradition from the UK, named the alleged client as DCI Group, a lobbying firm representing ExxonMobil. This revelation sent shockwaves through the climate community, as it implied a direct connection between Exxon and the hacking.
The US attorney’s office in New York further alleged that a lobbying firm working on behalf of Exxon hired Forlit to target climate activists. Reuters reported that the FBI had also investigated DCI Group, a firm with a long-standing relationship with Exxon, regarding the hacking operation. Public documents show Exxon spent over $3 million on lobbying through DCI Group, including $320,000 in 2015, the year the hacking was allegedly commissioned.
DCI Group and Exxon have denied involvement, with Exxon stating it has not been involved in any hacking activities and condemning any such actions. However, the company acknowledges the reality of climate change and has a business dedicated to reducing emissions.
The legal proceedings have also involved Aviram Azari, an Israeli private investigator, who pleaded guilty to hacking charges in 2022. Azari 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 of the stolen documents were leaked to the press and used in Exxon’s court filings.
As the trial unfolds, climate activists are eagerly awaiting the revelation of who ordered the hacking operation. Jennifer Cunningham, a victim of the phishing attempts, hopes the court case will provide more details, including communication between the companies and hackers. Lee Wasserman, another victim, believes the operation was directed by Exxon and its allies, and the chilling effect on their efforts to hold Exxon accountable was profound.
Kert Davies, still monitoring Exxon, emphasizes the personal significance of the case. He hopes the Forlit case will reveal Exxon’s involvement, stating, 'None of that has been proven yet. So any furtherance of that story and that proof is really important to me, personally, and to a lot of the people who were attacked by this operation 10 years ago.'
This legal saga, with its potential revelations, underscores the complex interplay between corporate interests, climate activism, and the lengths to which some entities will go to silence dissent.
