Crypto Critic Molly White Faces Bribery and Legal Threats Over FutureNet Exposé

Crypto Fraud and Intimidation Tactics: The FutureNet Case

In recent developments within the cryptocurrency sector, a prominent case has brought to light the disturbing tactics used by some individuals to silence critical reporting. According to TechCrunch, the crypto news site Web3 Is Going Just Great reported in August the arrest of Roman Ziemian, the founder of the crypto trading platform FutureNet. Ziemian is accused of defrauding victims out of $21 million, a mirror of the rising fraud cases within the crypto world.

A Routine Post Turns Controversial

The site's administrator, Molly White, a software engineer known for her critical stance on the crypto industry, documented Ziemian's arrest as a routine post. White has built a reputation for meticulously chronicling frauds, hacks, and scams that have marred the reputation of various influencers, crypto project founders, and web3 companies.

Attempts to Silence Reporting

However, the situation took a dramatic turn on October 18 when an individual claiming to operate a "reputation management company" contacted White. This unnamed person demanded the removal of her post about FutureNet and Ziemian, offering $200 as a bribe to delete the information. White stood firm and refused, citing the accuracy of her reporting.

The alleged briber escalated their offer to $500, but White declined again, highlighting that this was not the first time she had faced intimidation. It was, however, the first instance in which someone directly attempted to bribe her for factual reporting.

The DMCA Misuse Allegations

Days later, White received an email from a person identifying as a lawyer named Michael Woods, invoking the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA). Woods claimed that her post infringed copyright by allegedly copying content from a Blogspot website called WP Media News, which supposedly published similar content a day prior to White's report.

Upon investigating, White discovered that the Blogspot site appeared to be a content farm with articles authored by Woods himself. Alarmingly, TechCrunch found inconsistencies in Woods' claims; notably, the address in his email signature did not exist, and no legal record for a Michael Woods was found in Los Angeles.

The Importance of Ethical Reporting

When faced with claims of copyright infringement, White cautioned Woods about the possible penalties for filing false DMCA claims. In response, Woods offered her $100 to retract her post, which she declined.

TechCrunch's investigation revealed a lack of credible evidence supporting Woods' allegations, and Woods did not respond to any requests for comments from TechCrunch. Furthermore, inquiries directed to the email associated with the official FutureNet website went unanswered.

White's Commitment to Factual Reporting

Molly White reiterated her dedication to reporting the truth, stating, "While I’m always happy to issue corrections if I have made an error, I do not remove posts simply because the people and companies I write about don’t like what I have to say." She underscored the importance of maintaining integrity in journalism, insisting that if she removed factual posts based on external pressures, it would lead to a significant loss of content on her website.

Conclusion

The FutureNet case highlights the alarming tactics used to suppress legitimate reporting in the crypto industry. As fraud cases rise, so too do efforts to silence those who seek to expose the truth. Journalists like Molly White play a crucial role in maintaining accountability and transparency in a space often riddled with deceit.