December 4, 2024 at 05:49AM
Law enforcement, led by Europol, dismantled the encrypted messaging service Matrix, previously used by criminals. After spying for three months and intercepting 2.3 million messages, police arrested several suspects in France, Spain, and Lithuania. Matrix had around 8,000 global users involved in criminal activities like drug trafficking and money laundering.
### Meeting Takeaways:
1. **Service Takedown**: Law enforcement agencies have successfully taken down an encrypted messaging service named Matrix, which was used by criminals.
2. **Background**: The investigation revealed Matrix’s existence while probing the murder of a Dutch journalist in 2021. The app was found on the phone of the convicted murderer.
3. **Service Details**:
– Matrix offered end-to-end encryption for a subscription fee between €1,300 and €1,600, which included a device and a six-month subscription.
– Access to the service was invitation-only.
4. **Scope of Operation**:
– Law enforcement identified over 40 servers in Europe, mainly in France and Germany.
– Over a three-month period, agencies intercepted 2.3 million messages from approximately 8,000 users globally communicating in 33 languages.
5. **Criminal Activity**: The intercepted messages predominantly related to drug trafficking, arms dealing, and money laundering.
6. **Arrests and Action**: On December 3, simultaneous arrests took place in France, Spain, and Lithuania, leading to the service’s shutdown.
7. **User Notification**: Users were informed of the message interception via a notification displayed on their phones the same day the service was taken down.
8. **Past Operations**: This operation mirrors previous law enforcement actions against other encrypted services (e.g., EncroChat, Ghost, Sky ECC) and highlights a pattern of agencies monitoring criminal communications before dismantling these services.
9. **Technological Complexity**: Europol noted that Matrix employed a more complex infrastructure than earlier services like EncroChat and Sky ECC.
10. **Recent Impact**: Following the takedown of EncroChat, a three-year investigation led to 6,500 arrests globally and significant drug seizures.
### Conclusion:
This meeting highlighted ongoing efforts by law enforcement to combat crime facilitated through encrypted communication platforms, showcasing both the effectiveness and strategies employed in these investigations.