Today, Explained The Crown Prince and the Amazon King
Jan 24, 2020
Kara Swisher, a savvy technology journalist, and Peter Kafka, an insightful tech analyst, delve into the shocking allegations that Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman hacked Jeff Bezos's phone. They dissect the forensic evidence linking a WhatsApp video to the breach and discuss the political ramifications. The duo explores Saudi Arabia's significant investments in Silicon Valley, navigating the ethics of these ties amid ongoing scrutiny. Additionally, they unpack the implications of surveillance, power dynamics, and social media manipulation in the tech landscape.
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Bezos Affair and Extortion
- The National Enquirer published stories about Jeff Bezos' affair, including photos, and attempted to extort him.
- Bezos exposed the extortion attempt and hinted at Saudi Arabian involvement, which was initially overlooked.
Initial Allegations and UN Report
- Bezos' investigator, Gavin DeBecker, claimed that the Saudis had accessed Bezos' phone and obtained private information.
- This claim was initially ignored until a UN report corroborated the allegations, giving them more weight.
WhatsApp Hack
- MBS allegedly hacked Bezos' phone by sending a video file via WhatsApp during a US tour.
- Clicking the video resulted in a massive upload of data from Bezos' phone.