LinkedIn Exposes Black Cube's Covert Video Campaign in Hungarian Elections
LinkedIn, the professional networking giant, revealed on Thursday that the secretive intelligence firm Black Cube orchestrated a clandestine video campaign targeting Hungarian activists and journalists leading up to last year's pivotal election in Central Europe.
Black Cube's Elaborate Network of Deceit
Mona Damian, a researcher for Microsoft-owned LinkedIn, disclosed at the Cyberwarcon conference in Arlington, Virginia, that Black Cube, hailing from Israel, ingeniously constructed a web of fake personas. These fabricated profiles utilized deceptive job postings to establish connections with their targets on the professional platform.
"Subsequently, video conversations occurred with some of the targets off-platform, and clips from those conversations were used as part of a campaign to discredit NGOs (non-governmental organizations) in Hungary," Damian explained.
Unraveling the Web: LinkedIn Takes Action
Damian further revealed that a series of fake Black Cube-run LinkedIn accounts had been successfully dismantled. In response to the severity of the abuse and a blatant violation of LinkedIn's terms of service, Black Cube's LinkedIn company page was also promptly removed.
Black Cube's Defense and LinkedIn's Silence
In response to these allegations, Black Cube, previously known for its involvement in Hollywood scandals, asserted that its operations solely revolve around litigation and "white collar crime" and operate "according to legal advice." Notably, the company denies any engagement in the cyberworld.
However, LinkedIn remained tight-lipped about the client Black Cube may have been working for, and a follow-up inquiry regarding the number of fake accounts removed went unanswered. The Hungarian government spokesperson has not commented on the matter.
Past Allegations and Political Interference
Black Cube has a history of controversy, with Politico reporting previous accusations of interference in Hungary's 2018 elections. Undercover operatives had secretly taped NGO leaders and published the footage on right-wing news outlets.
The campaign exposed by LinkedIn began in 2020, targeting at least 12 activists and journalists critical of Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban. Reuters interviewed these individuals last year after they were secretly recorded over video calls. The footage was later published in pro-government media before Hungary's April 2022 elections.
Impact on Hungarian Democracy
The election resulted in a resounding victory for Orban, whose government consistently portrays NGOs and journalists as tools of external influence. Orsolya Jeney, former director of Amnesty International Hungary and one of the campaign's targets, expressed how the footage became a propaganda tool, dominating Hungarian media for weeks.
Dalibor Rohac, a senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute and one of the targeted individuals, commented on the operation's broader implications. While uncertain of its impact on Orban's victory, he highlighted the concerning atmosphere surrounding Hungarian elections: "Hungarian elections might be called free, but they're definitely not fair."
Conclusion
LinkedIn's revelation of Black Cube's covert video campaign sheds light on the intricate webs spun in the digital landscape of political maneuvering. As Hungary grapples with the aftermath of the 2022 elections, questions linger about the true extent of such covert operations and their impact on the democratic process.
