The New York Times reported on an advanced spy tool being purchased in the US and the FBI investigated it. Turns out it was the FBI behind it the whole time.
Meanwhile...
Sometimes the jokes just write themselves.
Or the memes meme themselves.
From The Times:
When The New York Times reported in April that a contractor had purchased and deployed a spying tool made by NSO, the contentious Israeli hacking firm, for use by the U.S. government, White House officials said they were unaware of the contract and put the F.B.I. in charge of figuring out who might have been using the technology.
After an investigation, the F.B.I. uncovered at least part of the answer: It was the F.B.I.
It's crazy how many memes we could fit into this story if we wanted to.
But as funny as it is, it's also pretty terrifying.
The FBI purchased a spying tool that was so out of bounds and so unethical that the government demanded they look into who purchased it. And after a thorough investigation, the FBI determined it was the FBI.
This particular tool, known as Landmark, allowed government officials to track people in Mexico without their knowledge or consent.
The F.B.I. now says that it used the tool unwittingly and that Riva Networks misled the bureau. Once the agency discovered in late April that Riva had used the spying tool on its behalf, Christopher A. Wray, the F.B.I. director, terminated the contract, according to U.S. officials.
We didn't know that tool we were using was purchased from a company we weren't allowed to purchase from.
Again:
I mean, sure, we signed the contract under the gun, days before it was made illegal. And sure we immediately implemented it in overseas spying. But how were we supposed to know what we were doing?
If this story is accurate then there are A LOT of people that need firing. But we all know it wasn't an accident and nobody's going to be fired for it.
Heck, the Russiagate people are still in high-profile FBI positions. Why should they start holding people accountable now?
We know this is a lie, or at least we're confident it is, because the tool was being used AFTER the FBI said they'd stopped using it.
But many questions remain. Why did the F.B.I. hire this contractor — which the bureau had previously authorized to purchase a different NSO tool under a cover name — for sensitive information-gathering operations outside the United States? And why was there apparently so little oversight?
It is also unclear which, if any, government agencies besides the F.B.I. might have worked with Riva Networks to deploy the spying tool in Mexico. Two people with direct knowledge of the contract said cellphone numbers in Mexico were targeted throughout 2021, 2022 and into this year — far longer than the F.B.I. says the tool was used.
There's still some absolutely shady stuff going on here, as should be expected with the FBI.
And The New York Times wants more answers:
The Times has sued the F.B.I. under the Freedom of Information Act for documents related to the bureau's purchase of NSO tools and has also sought documents about the bureau's relationship with Riva Networks. In a court filing this week, government lawyers argued that the F.B.I. should not have to turn over information about Riva Networks because "the vendors at issue either already do, or may in the future, offer other products that are or can be used for investigative purposes."
Maybe the New York Times should run another report on it so the FBI will investigate it further since, apparently, that's what it takes for the FBI to look for malfeasance within the deep state.
Of course, it's entirely possible other alphabet agencies could be using this outlawed technology. The CIA needs to look into the CIA. And the NSA the NSA. Maybe they'll all be able to find out that they're the lawbreakers the entire time!
My thoughts? We are ruled by incompetent morons.
