Exxon and lobbying firm linked to climate activist hacking case
An Israeli man facing extradition to the U.S. claims in court filings that Exxon Mobil and lobbying firm DCI Group were involved in a hacking campaign targeting climate advocates.
Lesley Clark reports for E&E News.
In short:
- Court filings from Amit Forlit, an Israeli citizen charged with hacking, allege that Exxon and DCI Group commissioned efforts to steal information from environmental activists involved in climate lawsuits against oil companies.
- The U.S. government is seeking Forlit’s extradition, linking him to a broader hacking ring that targeted climate activists from 2012 to 2019. Exxon and DCI deny involvement.
- Documents obtained through the hacking were used in Exxon’s legal defense against lawsuits seeking damages for climate-related impacts.
Key quote:
“Perpetrators are rarely caught in hacking cases, so we feel fortunate that people are being held to account for these crimes apparently committed on behalf of Exxon by surrogates all the way from Washington to Israel to India and back.”
— Kert Davies, Center for Climate Integrity
Why this matters:
Allegations that ExxonMobil and a lobbying firm linked to the oil giant supported hacking efforts have raised fresh concerns about corporate interference in climate litigation. If the claims hold up, they could suggest a broader pattern of attempts to undercut legal challenges aimed at holding fossil fuel companies accountable for their role in climate change. The outcome of these cases could set precedents with massive financial consequences, making them some of the most consequential litigation efforts in recent history. Whether or not Exxon is found to have played a role, the controversy highlights the increasingly aggressive tactics in the fight over who should pay for the costs of a warming world.
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