The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has reportedly used an unreleased technology from Israel-based digital intelligence company Cellebrite CLBT to gain access to the phone of the individual who targeted former President Donald Trump.
What Happened: After the FBI faced difficulties unlocking the phone of the shooter, identified as Thomas Matthew Crooks, they turned to Cellebrite for assistance. Despite having a license for Cellebrite’s software, the FBI’s Pittsburgh bureau was unable to bypass the passcode on Crooks’ newer Samsung model phone, which runs on Android’s operating system.
Upon reaching out to Cellebrite’s team, the FBI received additional technical support and a new, unreleased software, Bloomberg reported on Friday. This software enabled the FBI to unlock the phone in just 40 minutes. Cellebrite, which generates about 20% of its public sector work from federal customers, has defended its technology against criticism from privacy advocates, asserting that it is used only in legally sanctioned cases and not for surveillance.
Why It Matters: The shooting incident, which occurred at a Trump rally in Bethel Park, Pennsylvania, resulted in injuries to the former president and the death of a spectator. The FBI identified the shooter as 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks from Bethel Park, Pennsylvania.
The incident led to intense scrutiny of the U.S. Secret Service, with both the public and political sphere raising questions about how an armed gunman was able to gain access to an open shooting position just 130 yards away from the podium where Trump was giving his speech. This scrutiny is expected to have vast political consequences for Trump’s campaign and affect specific stocks and sectors.
Furthermore, it was reported that local law enforcement had cautioned the Secret Service about their inability to provide adequate security at the rally. The Secret Service was informed that the local police department was short-staffed and couldn't assist with securing a key building where the shooter later positioned himself and fired at Trump.
Price Action: On Friday, Cellebrite was trading 2.07% higher at $12.82 in the pre-market, according to Benzinga Pro.
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This story was generated using Benzinga Neuro and edited by Pooja Rajkumari
© 2024 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.
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