News: crime

Showing posts with label crime. Show all posts

Sunday, February 15, 2026

The Epstein files cover-up: Botched or calculated? | The Listening Post

This video from Al Jazeera's The Listening Post covers three main topics: the Epstein files, the internet crackdown in Iran, and the militarization of American football through the Super Bowl.

The first segment focuses on the Epstein files (0:43) and the alleged cover-up by the US Department of Justice.

The video highlights the disorderly release of over 3 million documents, 180,000 images, and 2,000 videos (0:43-0:52).

It discusses the failed redaction of names of high-profile suspects and the accidental exposure of victims' identities (1:02-1:06).

The segment emphasizes the lack of accountability in the US, particularly concerning Donald Trump's name appearing frequently in the files (1:31-1:38).

Accountability in the U.S. fails due to several factors:

Lack of Action Despite Evidence: Despite the release of the Epstein files and awareness of what happened, no one is facing accountability (2:47-2:51).

Media Complicity: The media is seen as complicit because it is not asking key questions about the unredacted parts of the files (2:52-2:57).

Politicization of Justice: The Department of Justice (DOJ) is described as essentially serving as "Trump's personal law firm" rather than representing the American people's interests (4:06-4:14). This suggests a breakdown in the impartiality of the justice system.

Calculated Strategy: The release of the files is seen by some as a "calculated move" to "muddy the waters" and solely blame the deceased Jeffrey Epstein and his accomplice Ghislaine Maxwell, rather than the wider network (3:00-3:08, 4:37-4:55).

Political Party Loyalty: Unlike in the past (e.g., Watergate), Republicans are no longer willing to stand up to a Republican president, backing "every move that he does" regardless of scandal (8:09-8:31). This prevents accountability from within the political system.

Gaslighting through Media Apparatus: The video claims a "media apparatus" is dedicated to "gaslighting millions of people each and every day to believe that he did absolutely nothing wrong" (8:41-8:50), making it difficult for the public to demand accountability.

Deep Societal Rot: The speaker expresses concern that "pedophilia is no longer a bipartisan issue" and that the "rot inside of this country is so incredibly deep," making it difficult to mend the "deep fracture" in the justice system (9:04-9:18:49).

Unwillingness of US Government to Pursue Justice: It is stated that the U.S. will most definitely not get accountability, and other governments abroad are encouraged to pursue it instead (9:52-9:55).

Experts in the video suggest the release was a calculated move to muddy the waters and pin the syndicate on Epstein alone (3:00-3:08, 4:37-4:55).

The role of social media and crowd-sourcing in scrutinizing the files is also discussed (10:10-10:26).

The second segment covers the internet blackout in Iran (11:31) and the repression of journalists.

Iranian authorities imposed a total internet blackout during anti-government protests, leading to a renewed wave of repression against journalists and political figures (11:31-11:47).

The video notes the difficulties journalists face in reporting and the punitive measures taken against them (11:53-12:23).

It suggests that Chinese technology from companies like Huawei and Hikvision may be aiding Iran in its internet filtering and surveillance capabilities (13:05-13:34).

The final segment examines the militarization of American football and the Super Bowl (14:12).

The Super Bowl is presented as a spectacle where militarism is aggressively marketed, from choreographed flyovers to flags (14:15-14:23).

The deep-rooted relationship between the NFL and the military is explored, with football's language often mirroring war analogies (15:58-16:13).

The segment highlights the mutual benefits of this relationship, allowing the military to showcase hardware, recruit soldiers, and reinforce narratives (16:49-16:57).

The "paid patriotism" scandal of 2015 is mentioned, where taxpayer funds were used to stage military displays during games (19:07-19:22).

The segment concludes by asserting that these events present a sanitized version of military service, allowing Americans to feel patriotic without confronting the harsh realities of war (22:46-23:07).

Lost Media The Internet Wasn’t Meant to See

This video from Visual Venture explores several instances of "lost media"—videos, pictures, and films that were never intended for public viewing but eventually surfaced online (0:02). The creator, Visual Venture, emphasizes his goal to produce more documentaries without compromising quality and encourages viewers to subscribe (0:24).

The video discusses:

"The Day the Clown Cried" (0:45): A 1972 film by comedian Jerry Lewis that he considered an embarrassment and vowed to keep hidden. The movie follows a clown who performs for Jewish children in a WWII concentration camp and eventually leads them to a gas chamber. Despite various attempts to keep it buried, fragments and a rough cut of the film have surfaced over the years.

The Lost Photo of Amelia Earhart (4:23): This segment debunks a 2017 conspiracy theory about a photo supposedly showing aviator Amelia Earhart alive after her disappearance in 1937. The photo, initially believed to be evidence of a government cover-up, was later proven to have been published in 1935, two years before Earhart vanished.

America's Filthiest Store (9:34): The story of Mexia Supermarket in Fort Worth, Texas, which was abandoned in 1999 with all its perishable food still inside. The resulting footage of the contaminated store and its cleanup became a highly sought-after piece of lost media, finally surfacing online in 2024.

"Crybaby Lane" (12:35): A controversial Nickelodeon Halloween movie from 2000 that was deemed too intense for children and was pulled from circulation. After years of being considered "lost," a VHS copy of the film was found by a Reddit user in 2011, and Nickelodeon re-aired it on Halloween of the same year.

The Death of Steve Irwin (16:09): The tragic 2006 death of "Crocodile Hunter" Steve Irwin, who was fatally stung by a stingray while filming a documentary. Despite the camera capturing the entire incident, the footage was seized by authorities for investigation and later destroyed by his widow, Terry Irwin, to prevent it from being seen by the public.

The Fatal Film Scene (19:17): The 1993 on-set death of actor Brandon Lee during the filming of "The Crow." A prop gun, mistakenly loaded with a fragment of a dummy bullet, fired and fatally wounded him. The footage of the accident was reportedly seized by police and has never been publicly released.

The Kitchen Tape No One Was Supposed to See (22:40): The infamous 2009 incident involving two Domino's employees who filmed themselves contaminating food in a prank video that went viral. The clips led to their arrest, the permanent closure of the store, and became "lost media" until a YouTuber tracked them all down in 2024.

The video concludes by emphasizing that nothing truly disappears from the internet (26:29), urging viewers to be careful about what they post online because "the internet is written in pen, not pencil" (26:39).

Horrors of the Dark Web

This video, "Horrors of the Dark Web," by Snook (0:00), explores two disturbing stories related to the dark web: "Boytown," an illicit online community, and the "WannaCry ransomware attack," a global cyberattack.

Boytown: A Horrific Online Community (0:47)

Launch and Purpose (1:36): Launched in June 2019, Boytown was a German video-sharing platform on the Tor browser, hosting illegal content involving minors and encouraging original uploads.

Community and Organization (2:47): It functioned as a hidden community with chat rooms (Loli Pub and Boys Pub) where users shared content and indulged in fantasies. The site evolved, with administrators organizing content into categories like "Art," "Kindergarten," and "Toddler" (4:29).

Scale and Operations (6:21): By May 2021, Boytown had 400,000 registered users, producing and distributing illegal content. Administrators also provided users with tips to avoid law enforcement (5:57).

Investigation and Arrests (7:15): German police and Interpol infiltrated the site, tracking down four administrators through their "entry nodes" on the Tor network (8:51). These individuals were arrested in April 2021 (10:27).

Controversy and Cover-up Allegations (10:49): The trial was closed to the public, unlike similar cases, raising suspicions that a high-ranking German security agency employee, allegedly involved in creating Boytown's security, was being protected (12:48).

Post-Shutdown Resurgence and Deletion Efforts (15:38): After the shutdown, a dump of Boytown's data reappeared online because the German government did not wipe the information. A group of journalists from Funk, specifically the YouTube channel STRG_F, heroically deleted 13.5 terabytes of data across various file-hosting sites (16:48). Despite efforts, successor websites emerged, proving the persistent nature of such communities (17:46).

WannaCry Ransomware Attacks (20:26)

NSA Exploit and Shadow Brokers (20:44): In August 2016, a group known as the "Shadow Brokers" allegedly stole advanced surveillance tools from the NSA, including "EternalBlue" and "DoublePulsar" (22:51). These powerful tools could grant remote access and control over Windows computers (25:51).

Leak and Ransomware Development (25:35): After failing to auction the stolen code, the Shadow Brokers released it onto the dark web in April 2017. Another group of hackers used these tools to develop "WannaCry," a ransomware designed to encrypt computers and demand a $300 Bitcoin payment (29:31).

Global Impact (31:30): On May 12, 2017, WannaCry was released, rapidly spreading worldwide. It crippled hospitals in the UK (31:47), public transportation in Germany (33:33), and industries in China (34:11), affecting over 150 countries and 230,000 computers within 48 hours (34:53).

The Kill Switch (35:12): A 22-year-old cybersecurity researcher, Marcus Hutchins, discovered a "kill switch" in the WannaCry code—a random domain it attempted to connect to. By registering this domain for $9.99, he inadvertently halted the ransomware's spread (35:38).

Aftermath and Attribution (36:48): WannaCry caused an estimated $4 billion in damages globally. Investigations linked the attack to the "Lazarus Group," a state-sponsored organization in North Korea responsible for numerous high-profile cyberattacks (37:41). The North Korean government has never accepted responsibility (38:13).

Thursday, February 12, 2026

Behind Bars: CPDRC, Philippines | World’s Toughest Prisons | Free Documentary

This documentary offers an in-depth look into the Cebu Provincial Detention and Rehabilitation Center (CPDRC) in the Philippines, one of the world's toughest prisons. It highlights the daily lives of inmates and guards, the unique internal community structure, and the challenges faced by those awaiting trial or serving long sentences.

Here are the key aspects of the video: Prison Environment (1:08-1:56):

The CPDRC is situated in Cebu, a city with high rates of drug trafficking, gangs, and violence. Many inmates are either convicts serving sentences or individuals awaiting trial for years.

Guard's Daily Routine (2:03-6:29): Christopher Somoza, a prison guard, demonstrates the strict security protocols, including thorough inspections to prevent contraband. He emphasizes the constant vigilance required due to being heavily outnumbered by inmates, with only 30 guards for nearly a thousand prisoners.

Prisoner's Community System (7:23-10:54): The prison operates with a unique inmate-led system. Lionol, known as "Bosyo" (the mayor), governs the prisoners with his bodyguards, the Manaria, maintaining order and enforcing rules. This system emerged due to overcrowding, resembling a local community with various jobs and hierarchies. Trustees, who behave well, receive privileges and assist the Bosyo and guards.

Life as an Inmate (11:07-12:52): Lionol shares his personal experience of spending 10 years in prison for drug smuggling without a final sentence. He describes the emotional toll and challenges of his position, including the political nature of leadership.

Security Measures and Challenges (13:33-17:12): The video shows unannounced cell searches for weapons, drugs, and cigarettes. The prison has 5-meter-high walls and a barbwire fence, with cameras monitoring inmates around the clock. Court dates are irregular, leading to long waits for inmates like Ronnie, who has been imprisoned for 11 years (15:26).

Female Inmates and Relationships (17:20-18:42): 53 women are imprisoned in a separate wing. Despite strict prohibitions on contact with male inmates, relationships do form, such as between Salomo and Flor, who have been together for four years but have had minimal physical contact.

International Inmates (18:58-23:17): The case of Peter, an Australian who has been awaiting sentencing for almost 12 years on charges of child abuse, human trafficking, and rape, is highlighted. He describes the difficulties of the justice system in the Philippines, where the accused must prove their innocence. Prisoner Activities and Rehabilitation (44:00-46:01): Despite the harsh conditions, inmates participate in a dance training program, which is part of their rehabilitation. This program helps reduce tension and promotes discipline and community spirit.

Release and Hope (46:11-47:48): The video concludes with the release of Rean, who served 10 months for drug abuse, illustrating the emotional impact of regaining freedom and the universal longing for release among inmates.