John,

This week, we found out that the FBI has been investigating DCI Group, a DC-based lobbying and PR firm, for its role in allegedly hiring hackers to attempt to break into activists’ emails to benefit corporate clients.¹ While this recent report focuses on oil giant ExxonMobil targeting environmental activists, it really hit home at Fight for the Future.² That's because in 2017, we faced attacks from the exact same group of hackers-for-hire, likely in response to our work on net neutrality.

This is just the latest reminder of just how low corporations are willing to stoop to maintain their death grip on their profits, whether it’s undercutting environmental activism or messing with Internet freedom groups like Fight. If we want to stand a chance of beating back these powerful companies and their shady practices under another Trump administration, we need your support. Will you pitch in to fight on the side of Internet users against these slimy corporations?

SUPPORT THE FIGHT

The hackers implicated in this recent investigation carried out a sophisticated phishing scheme targeting our team and other net neutrality activists, sending nearly 70 personalized and highly manipulative messages over the course of a month.³ At the time, we knew someone important must be unhappy with our work, but couldn’t confirm who with certainty. Now, with DCI Group identified, we have a clearer picture. One of their highest-paying clients happens to be Verizon, a Big Telecom company vehemently opposed to our fight for net neutrality.⁴ We’ll let you fill in the blanks.

Our battle with the targeted attacks taught us quite a few things, but the most important was this: we scare Big Telecom and Big Tech. We know when our work is viewed as a threat to those that prioritize the profits of some over the rights of many, we’re doing something right. Since 2017, we’ve fought hard to maintain and restore net neutrality,⁵ expose the problematic practices of companies like Meta⁶ and Amazon,⁷ and build digital people power to demand a fair and free Internet for all. Can we count on you to sustain this work and resist Big Telecom sabotage?

In 2025, we only plan to get scarier in the eyes of the companies complicit in surveillance and censorship. Will you make a gift today to fuel effective campaigns for privacy, access to information, and freedom of expression online? Each donation of $20 or more comes with a special thank you gift from the team.

DONATE NOW

Thanks for your support, John.

Toward a safe Internet for activists (and everyone else),

Alex and the team at Fight

Footnotes:

1. Reuters: https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/exxon-lobbyist-investigated-over-hack-and-leak-environmentalist-emails-sources-2024-11-27/

2. FBI investigating Verizon’s lobbying firm over hacking activists’ emails: https://www.fightforthefuture.org/news/2024-12-03-fbi-investigating-verizons-lobbying-firm-over-hacking-activists-emails/

3. EFF: https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2017/09/phish-future

4. Sludge: https://readsludge.com/2024/12/03/big-oils-cybermercenary-lobbyists-exposed/

5. Battle for the Net: https://www.battleforthenet.com/

6. Meta, Let Palestine Speak: https://www.fightforthefuture.org/actions/meta-let-palestine-speak

7. More than 20 civil rights groups and 10,000 supporters protest to shut down Amazon’s surveillance empire: https://www.fightforthefuture.org/news/2021-06-10-more-than-20-civil-rights-groups-and-10000/