UK Court Greenlights Extradition of Hacker Accused of Targeting Environmental Groups

A London court has authorized the extradition of Amit Forlit, an Israeli businessman, who is implicated in a hacking scheme aimed at environmental activists. Forlit's companies allegedly earned millions by unlawfully acquiring sensitive data for a lobbying firm connected to ExxonMobil, which faces multiple lawsuits regarding its climate change disclosures.

A London court has given the go-ahead for the extradition of Amit Forlit, a 57-year-old Israeli national, to the United States, where he is charged with conducting a “hacking-for-hire” service that targeted environmental organizations. According to U.S. prosecutors, Forlit's businesses are accused of profiting by at least $16 million through hacking over a hundred victims, stealing confidential data at the behest of a lobbying firm that has worked for ExxonMobil.

Court documents revealed that Forlit's alleged hackers were employed by the DCI Group, a lobbying firm tied to Exxon, which has been entangled in numerous lawsuits from Democratic state attorneys general regarding its reported long-term concealment of climate change risks while aggressively marketing fossil fuels. In a court filing from January, Forlit's defense team pointed to ExxonMobil as the client in question.

ExxonMobil has publicly denounced any involvement in illegal hacking activities, stating that if hacking did occur, it would be condemned unequivocally. A representative for DCI Group, Craig Stevens, stated the firm instructs all employees and consultants to adhere strictly to the law, rejecting claims of any engagement in hacking activities “over a decade ago.” Furthermore, DCI accused critics of pushing unfounded conspiracy theories, specifically targeting allegations fueled by activists and affluent donors entrenched in fossil energy legacies.