ExpressVPN employees complain about ex-spy’s top role at company

When a senior executive at virtual private network company ExpressVPN admitted last week to working on behalf of a foreign intelligence service hacking American machines, it prompted employees of his new company. stunned as per the interview and electronic record. .

ExpressVPN further upset some employees after the US Justice Department’s deferred prosecution agreement court papers were filed: the company was aware of Dan Gerrick’s history as a hacker for hire for the United Arab Emirates.

The VPN provider said it had no problem with the former intelligence operative protecting the privacy of its customers. In fact, the company repeatedly assigned more responsibility to Xerick at ExpressVPN, even as the FBI investigation of his conduct pushed toward its conclusion.

According to an internal email at the time, Gerrick was named chief technology officer in August, and remains in the position.

Gerrick and two other former US intelligence operatives agreed to pay the fine and drop any future classified work shortly after the court filing he emailed his colleagues at ExpressVPN.

“I can imagine that news like this is surprising or even uncomfortable,” Gerrick wrote in a message obtained by Businesshala, then assuring him that he used his skills to protect consumers from threats to their security and privacy. Is.

When senior company executives acknowledged questions about Gerrick’s deal during a routine online question-and-answer session with employees last Friday and then announced the company’s sale to British-Israeli digital security software provider Cape Technologies plc , then the task force opposed it. Anger.

One employee wrote anonymously on an internal chat board: “This episode has eroded consumer confidence in our brand regardless of the facts. How do we want to rebuild our reputation?”

More than 40 employees voted in favor of that question during the session, sending it to the top of the queue. Other employee complaints were reported by Vice earlier on Thursday. The question and vote totals were made available to Businesshala by someone authorized to have them.

When asked about the controversy, ExpressVPN said in a statement that the exchange was part of a regular monthly session between management and employees.

“Last Friday’s incident was a profound example of an existing channel for employees to question top leadership,” ExpressVPN said. “As a company, we value openness, dialogue and transparency – including strong debate and in-depth inquiry.”

A 2019 Businesshala investigation revealed how Xerick was embedded within the codename Project Raven, which helped the UAE survey a wide range of targets, including human rights activists and journalists. The story did not name Gerik personally.

In Friday’s session with the leaders of ExpressVPN, the second most supported question also concerned him.

“As a person I have a problem accepting that Dan was hired despite disclosing past actions. These actions are not small things that we can easily forget or take for granted. Are they Doesn’t go against everything that XV is for?” the person asked.

To Businesshala, the company responded: “It is only through a clear commitment and contribution to our mission that Daniels has been able to earn a senior leadership role within the company and the full trust of our co-founders.”