The case raises questions about corporate influence and environmental advocacy amid ongoing litigation against oil companies.
**Judge Greenlights Extradition of Hacker Linked to Climate Groups’ Breach**
**Judge Greenlights Extradition of Hacker Linked to Climate Groups’ Breach**
A court in London approves the extradition of Amit Forlit, accused of running a hacking operation for an Exxon lobbying firm.
In a significant legal development, a London court has given the green light for the extradition of Amit Forlit, an Israeli citizen, to the United States. Forlit, aged 57, is charged with operating a hacking-for-hire service that targeted various environmental organizations. Prosecutors in New York claim that his firms generated over $16 million by perpetrating cyberattacks on more than 100 entities, with the stolen data reportedly sought by a lobbying firm associated with ExxonMobil.
The specific lobbying firm mentioned in court documents is DCI Group, which is implicated in the ongoing legal challenges Exxon faces regarding its alleged concealment of climate change risks. This legal scrutiny has been intensified by lawsuits led by Democratic state attorneys general, accusing the oil giant of deliberately obscuring the detrimental impacts of fossil fuel consumption for decades to maintain profitability.
ExxonMobil has publicly distanced itself from the hacking allegations, stating it was unaware of any such actions and would strongly condemn any hacking activities if they occurred. Meanwhile, a representative from DCI Group, Craig Stevens, asserted that the firm mandates its employees and consultants to comply with lawful conduct, denying any involvement in the alleged hacking activities cited from nearly ten years prior. Stevens further characterized claims by environmental activists as conspiratorial, framing their critiques as motivated by personal investments in fossil fuel legacies.
The extradition of Forlit carries broader implications amid an increasingly hostile climate toward fossil fuel corporations and intensified activism aimed at combating climate change. As this case unfolds, it may set precedents regarding corporate accountability and the extent of digital warfare against environmental advocacy movements.
The specific lobbying firm mentioned in court documents is DCI Group, which is implicated in the ongoing legal challenges Exxon faces regarding its alleged concealment of climate change risks. This legal scrutiny has been intensified by lawsuits led by Democratic state attorneys general, accusing the oil giant of deliberately obscuring the detrimental impacts of fossil fuel consumption for decades to maintain profitability.
ExxonMobil has publicly distanced itself from the hacking allegations, stating it was unaware of any such actions and would strongly condemn any hacking activities if they occurred. Meanwhile, a representative from DCI Group, Craig Stevens, asserted that the firm mandates its employees and consultants to comply with lawful conduct, denying any involvement in the alleged hacking activities cited from nearly ten years prior. Stevens further characterized claims by environmental activists as conspiratorial, framing their critiques as motivated by personal investments in fossil fuel legacies.
The extradition of Forlit carries broader implications amid an increasingly hostile climate toward fossil fuel corporations and intensified activism aimed at combating climate change. As this case unfolds, it may set precedents regarding corporate accountability and the extent of digital warfare against environmental advocacy movements.
