Vanessa
Human resources software company Deel Inc. is facing allegations of corporate espionage after a former employee of competitor Rippling reportedly confessed to spying under the direction of Deel’s CEO, Alex Bouaziz.
According to an affidavit unsealed in an Irish court, the ex-employee, Keith O’Brien, admitted to receiving approximately €5,000 per month to pass on confidential information about Rippling, including corporate strategies, customer insights, and internal communications.
O’Brien reportedly stated that Bouaziz had encouraged him to remain at Rippling and act as an informant, even referencing the idea of being “like James Bond.” Payments were allegedly coordinated through Deel CFO Philippe Bouaziz and often made using cryptocurrency.
Rippling uncovered the scheme after noticing unusual activity, including Deel’s aggressive recruitment of its employees and inquiries from journalists about internal discussions. Security teams launched an investigation and created a fake Slack channel as a “honeypot” to confirm suspicions. Shortly after, O’Brien accessed the decoy channel, providing evidence of unauthorized surveillance.
Legal action escalated when Rippling secured a court order to search O’Brien’s devices. He later admitted to resetting and destroying his phone on the advice of Deel’s legal team and was urged to relocate to Dubai for safety.
Rippling’s lawsuit accuses Deel of racketeering, trade secret misappropriation, and unfair competition. Deel has denied any wrongdoing and announced plans to file counterclaims.
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Vanessa has no crypto positions and does not hold any crypto assets. This article is provided for informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial advice. The Shib Daily is an official media and publication of the Shiba Inu cryptocurrency project. Readers are encouraged to conduct their own research and consult with a qualified financial adviser before making any investment decisions.
