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Jared Kushner Hacked Phone Reveals Secret Negotiations, Millions in Transactions

First reported by Vanityfair ·

The signal ●○○○ Compiled by AI from Vanityfair and Hacker News
Why you might care

Your financial dealings could be exposed if your phone's security is compromised.

What happened

Dutch intelligence agency MIVD discovered an exploit in Jared Kushner's iPhone X, gaining screen access through a vulnerability in the device. While monitoring Kushner's activity, they observed him logging into a UAE bank account that had received hundreds of millions of dollars from Azerbaijan. This account, identified as "Alpha," was managed by the Watani Al Emarat Foundation, a UAE government-funded charity overseen by Tahnoon bin Zayed, brother of UAE ruler Mohamed bin Zayed (MBZ). The funds were intended for foreign policy objectives and secret military operations, with Kushner as a signatory. Investigations suggest this arrangement was part of a larger deal where MBZ and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS) offered substantial funding to Kushner, initially discussing over $10 billion for a foreign policy slush fund. The plan evolved, with MBZ and MBS contributing at least $2 billion to Kushner's accounts, including the Alpha account which received approximately $750 million from Saudi and Emirati sources starting in 2017.

What it means

The revelation that Kushner's iPhone was compromised and that Dutch intelligence gained screen-level access to his activities highlights a significant geopolitical intelligence vulnerability. The ability of foreign intelligence agencies to access sensitive communications through personal devices of high-ranking officials underscores the ongoing battle for digital supremacy and the critical need for robust cybersecurity measures for individuals in positions of power. This incident points to a sophisticated level of cyber espionage, where vulnerabilities in consumer-grade technology are exploited for strategic intelligence gathering.

The financial transactions detailed suggest a blurring of lines between personal diplomacy, foreign policy objectives, and potentially illicit financial arrangements. The use of a UAE government charity as a conduit for funds intended for clandestine operations, with a presidential advisor as a signatory, raises serious questions about financial transparency, disclosure laws, and the potential for conflicts of interest. This case illustrates how complex financial networks, facilitated by opaque banking practices and charitable fronts, can be utilized to obscure the flow of money for undisclosed purposes.

AI-written summary. May contain errors.