[美 감청 논란]
Confidential leak suspect Teixeira arrested
Show off your intelligence by posting confidential information in the chat room… FBI Locates Suspects with Photos
In the US, 2.8 million people have confidential access… Next week, congressional hearings will be held to discuss countermeasures
Suspect Jack Teixeira (21), who leaked about 350 pieces of the latest top-secret information collected from around the world, including the delivery schedule of Korean shells, the trajectory of North Korean missiles, and maps of Ukrainian air defense networks, was arrested on the 13th (local time). Investigations on the back are also expected to speed up. On this day, the US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) arrested him in an arrest operation reminiscent of a military operation, including mobilizing a large number of heavily armed agents with armored vehicles, military aircraft, and rifles.
However, as it was revealed that Teixeira, a low-level communications officer belonging to the Massachusetts National Guard, not the US regular army, had unrestricted access to top-secret information, criticism of the US’ lax security system as well as the aftermath of the situation did not subside easily. Even after 10 years have passed since the 2013 accusation by Edward Snowden, a former NSA agent who exposed the United States’ omnidirectional wiretapping and wiretapping, criticism continues that the system for handling classified US documents has not been properly maintained.
According to The Washington Post (WP) and others, Teixeira belonged to a “patriotic family,” in which she, her mother, stepfather, and relatives all engaged in military-related work. His mother worked for the Massachusetts Department of Veterans Affairs, a non-profit organization that supports veterans. My stepfather, who served for 34 years, retired a few years ago as a sergeant. He also served in the 102nd Intelligence Wing, his stepson Teixeira’s current post.
Teixeira, a Catholic, joined several relatives in September 2019 after graduating from high school. Because of his recruit training, he was unable to attend his high school graduation ceremony. In October 2021, he was deployed to his current duty station, and in July of last year, he was promoted from Private to Private and received a Medal of Excellence.
Teixeira showed his far-right and anti-Semitic tendencies by using the nickname ‘OG’ in a chat room in ‘Discord’, a chat platform that leaked documents. Chat participants, most of whom are in their teens, were admonished on the importance of hierarchical order and the international situation. When Teixeira prophesied about an event not reported in the media, the participants held him up like a leader.
Teixeira enjoyed this treatment and acted like he was important. This is the reason why there is an analysis that he leaked it for the purpose of ‘bluff’ and ‘show off’, not as a ‘whistleblower’ like Snowden. When the interest of the participants faded after posting the document, he was angry several times, saying, “If I don’t read it properly, I won’t post it anymore.”
The US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) sent an armored vehicle and six agents armed with rifles and body armor to his mother’s home in North Dyton, Massachusetts, on the same day. A reconnaissance military aircraft was also waiting in the nearby sky.
Agents confirmed that Teixeira was at home. Considering that he is an active soldier and a weapon enthusiast, he called his name from outside rather than immediately entering the house. Teixeira complied with the arrest relatively docilely. He clasped his hands behind his head and backed up to his armored car. The agents took cover behind his armored vehicle and aimed their rifles at him.
The fact that he was arrested in a relatively short period of time, just one week after the report on the leaked documents on the 6th, is interpreted as leaving ‘digital fingerprints’ throughout the leaking process that can infer his identity. In particular, it is known that the place of arrest, such as the mother’s house, was exposed early by taking pictures of the documents and posting them. The FBI monitored him two days before his arrest and succeeded in arresting him.
Under the US Espionage Act, up to 10 years in prison is possible for each leaked document. This means that he, who leaked about 350 cases, could be sentenced to hundreds of years in arithmetic terms.
It is also questionable how he, a private in the National Guard, was able to steal the top secret. Pentagon spokesman Patrick Ryder said on the 13th that the US security system values ’job relevance’ rather than ‘rank’ and that “secret handling authorization may be required depending on the job.” His position as a communications intelligence officer meant that he was granted high-level classified access.
CNN said that as of 2017, six years ago, 1.6 million people had confidential access, and an additional 1.2 million people could view classified information. It is pointed out that the practice of printing confidential information on paper for generals who enjoy memos and the lax operating system that can be seen by 2.8 million people must be corrected urgently. The ruling Democratic Party decided to hold a hearing next week to discuss measures to prevent a recurrence.
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Source: Donga
Mark Jones is a world traveler and journalist for News Rebeat. With a curious mind and a love of adventure, Mark brings a unique perspective to the latest global events and provides in-depth and thought-provoking coverage of the world at large.