GoKawiilOxygen Forensics execs charged over hidden Russian ownership tied to UK, US police use
US prosecutors arrested Oxygen Forensics' American CEO Lion Reiber and Russian national Vladimir Davydov, alleging the Virginia-based company concealed Russian ownership to win US government contracts, including a five-year deal with the Secret Service awarded in September 2024. British police, including specialist Metropolitan Police units, have also used Oxygen's phone-unlocking software during live investigations, according to public documents. Prosecutors say Reiber falsely told US officials in 2022, 2023 and again in March that the company had no top-level owner and no Russian involvement in building the software.
GoKawiil's interpretation of the reporting above, not reported fact.
The case raises questions about whether Western law enforcement agencies, including UK forces, have been relying on forensic tools whose supply chain and data security were not fully disclosed. If true, this could expose sensitive investigative data to risks tied to foreign ownership that sanctions rules were meant to prevent. The charges, carrying up to 20 years in prison, also suggest US authorities see deliberate deception rather than mere oversight in how the company secured its contracts.
- Oxygen Forensics' CEO and a Russian national face US charges over concealing the company's Russian ownership.
- UK police, including Metropolitan Police units, have used Oxygen's software to access suspects' phones.
- The US Secret Service awarded Oxygen a five-year contract in September 2024 despite the alleged ownership concealment.
Source: yro.slashdot.org, 2026-10-01
Published there as: “Russian-Owned Snooping Software Used By US Secret Service”
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