The United States attorney for the Southern District of New York (SDNY), Damian Williams, and the Department of Justice (DOJ) have filed a petition for “proposed modifications” to the bail conditions of former FTX CEO Sam Bankman-Fried. According to the SDNY prosecutor, the restriction would prohibit Bankman-Fried from accessing the internet through any smartphone device.
Bankman-Fried May be Given a Flip Phone With Strict Rules
On March 3, 2023, the DOJ and SDNY attorney Damian Williams requested Judge Lewis Kaplan to modify the bail conditions of Sam Bankman-Fried (SBF), former CEO of FTX. Prosecutors are seeking to limit SBF’s use of the internet on devices such as smartphones, tablets, computers, and video game consoles that allow voice and chat communication. SBF could be prohibited from using any smart device.
The government also wants the temporary measures added to SBF’s bail conditions to be made permanent. These measures include not talking to any FTX Alameda Research Employee via FTX without a lawyer present, and not using encrypted messaging services such as Signal. Additionally, the use of virtual private networks (VPNs) would be banned. SBF would receive a government-issued flip phone with a DOJ-controlled serial number, IMEI and IMSI numbers, MAC addresses, and a SIM number. The flip phone would allow only voice and SMS text messaging.
“With respect to the defendant’s computer usage, the parties propose that the defendant’s new laptop be configured so that he is only able to log on to the internet through the use of specified VPNs, and that the VPNs only permit the defendant to access websites that have been whitelisted through the VPNs,” the court filing submitted by the SDNY attorney reads. “Specifically, an approved VPN installed on the laptop would allow the defendant to access the cloud-hosted FTX read-only database that has been provided as part of discovery.”
Furthermore, federal prosecutors want to install monitoring software on SBF’s computer to log his activity. If Judge Kaplan approves, SBF would need to surrender his electronic devices for pretrial services investigation. The ex-CEO of FTX would also be barred from buying new cell phones or tablets, computers, and any other electronic devices that connect to the internet. Before the DOJ’s request, SBF was known to play video games such as Fortnite, where he often communicates with other players, which the government is hoping to prevent.
The US Department of Justice (DOJ) is seeking to impose further restrictions on the online activities of former FTX CEO Sam Bankman-Fried. The DOJ is asking a federal judge to impose tighter restrictions on the social media and digital communication usage of Bankman-Fried while he is out on bail.
Under the proposed restrictions, Bankman-Fried would be limited to using only government-issued flip phones or tablets, and must submit all devices to pretrial services for monitoring. He will also be prohibited from using any encrypted messengers or chat communication, as well as any online video games, voice communication and voice calls. The DOJ also wants Bankman-Fried to submit to using only specified VPNs and limit his internet access to browsing and SMS text messaging.
The request for additional restrictions was filed in the Southern District of New York (SDNY) by SDNY attorney Damian Williams. Judge Lewis Kaplan, who is presiding over the case, has not yet ruled on the DOJ’s request.
The news of the proposed restrictions comes on the heels of Bankman-Fried’s recent launch of a new website and Substack blog, where he intends to tell his side of the story.
The public is now left to wonder what implications the proposed restrictions could have for Bankman-Fried. What do you think about the government’s proposed restrictions? Please share your thoughts in the comments section.
