I’ve been nosing around in the HBGary email dump for a while now. I see the three main suspects, HBGary Federal, Palantir, and Berico. Mixed in with them are many other names, people and companies who are either already spying on us, or who were seriously considering doing so.
The recent revelations about Apple and unwanted tracking behavior from their phones sent me in to check. There are only twenty nine messages between HBGary Federal CEO and Apple employees, but put in context they are very revealing. And I don’t like what I see.
Aaron Barr began talking to Apple on January 21st, 2010.
Thanks Matt,
It was great meeting you as well. I will definately give you a ring next time we are out your way.
Andy. Give me another few weeks. My clearances are just getting re-instated since moving to a different company, but I definitely want to discuss a few things.
Aaron
On Jan 15, 2010, at 8:01 PM, Matt Sturges wrote:
> Aaron,
>
> Great meeting you this week at the conference, hopefully the rest of the week went well for you.
>
> Per our conversation, I've cc'd Andy Kemp from our team. Andy holds a TS and covers our Intel side of the business.
>
> Andy, Aaron, recently took over as CEO for HB Gary Federal, but came over from NG where he worked on a lot of interesting projects. Specifically he has one that he wanted to talk to you about that requires a clearance.
>
> I've attached both of your vcards so you guys can connect.
> Aaron, let me know when you make it out west and we can hook up at Apple.
Apple employee Andy Kemp holds high level security clearances and he will be Barr’s contact.
Matt /Aaron
I'm ready to meet whenever it is good for you.
My clearances are ts/sci with additional compartments, so I can meet wherever you choose.
Thanks Matt
Regards,
Andy Kemp
National Programs
Apple Inc.
There is some back and forth chatter, but this meeting to discuss Counter Insurgency is interesting. Are they using iPhones to detonate bombs in Iraq, or is this a domestic thing?
Type:Single Meeting
Organizer:Clair, Chris (TASC)
Start Time:Wednesday, July 14, 2010 10:00 AM
End Time:Wednesday, July 14, 2010 11:00 AM
Time Zone:(GMT-05:00) Eastern Time (US & Canada)
Location:WF3 - 3D
~~~~~~~~~
Discussion with Apple regarding COIN. We'll talk infrastructure and strategy.
We should have an NDA in place by the time the meeting rolls around.
Chris
Now this is very interesting – Aaron Barr talking to Andy Kemp about Christopher Tucker.
Hey Andy,
Remember the event that I told you about. It was a lively night. Apple, the appstore, mobile app development came up on multiple occasions.
I met Chris at this event and we had some very lively discussions regarding social media, evolving technology, and threats. Chris has a very interesting and enterprising background (especially for government). I think you guys would have a lot to talk about, so I wanted to make the introduction.
Talk to you soon.
Aaron Barr
CEO
HBGary Federal Inc.
Yes, this Christopher Tucker, CEO of MapStor.
Here’s Aaron Barr talking to Andy Kemp about Apple’s Romas/COIN proposal. Apple was working with HBGary, but this isn’t about Team Themis, it’s their effort to peel the Romas/COIN work away from Northrop Grumman.
Hi Andy,
Still waiting on the COIN/Romas proposal.... any day.
Do you have a contact at Pixar/Disney I could talk with?
Aaron
So, let’s see. Unwanted data collection happening on your iPhone? Yup. Creepy and possibly illegal spying conspiracy involving HBGary & others? Yup. Cameo appearance by mapping expert Christopher Tucket of MapStor? Yup.
Congressman Hank Johnson has been pushing for an investigation of this matter, requesting documentation on contracts between the three main companies in the conspiracy and various government agencies. This doesn’t seem likely to get done in the House, but it will be on the Republicans’ heads if they block it, and the Senate Judiciary Committee won’t be shy about digging into the problem.
We can not let this stuff slide just because it’s complex. The HBGary break in gave us a peek into the command & control function of the class war the Chamber of Commerce is waging against us. We have to stand over our government until we find and punish those involved, then we need firm legislation to protect us from the sort of manipulation and intimidate the Chamber was planning.