In the years since, I’ve learned how widespread the use of private intelligence is by the world’s autocrats, oligarchs, and corporations. Often making use of retired American and Israeli spies and Special Forces troops, dozens of outfits like Black Cube can intimidate inconvenient adversaries, obtain sensitive information, blackmail people, or shape an online or media narrative to suit the interests of their client. Consider it a service industry for the powerful who can afford to pay those bills and have the will to do so.
