Jacob Appelbaum: Difference between revisions

{{shortShort description|American computer security researcher and journalist (born 1 April 1983)}}

| alt = Picture of Jacob Appelbaum

| citizenship = [[Americans|American]]

| workplaces = [[University of Washington]],<ref name="tor">{{cite web |url=https://www.torproject.org/about/corepeople.html |title=Tor Project: Core People |publisher=Tor |access-date=13 April 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120722020641/https://www.torproject.org/about/corepeople.html |archive-date=22 July 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref><br />[[Eindhoven University of Technology]],<ref name="phd_eindhoven">{{Cite web|url=https://twitter.com/ioerror/status/638735997396774912|title=Today is my first day as a PhD student with @hyperelliptic and @hashbreaker at @tue_mcs. #pqc|first=Jacob|last=Appelbaum|date=Sep 1, 2015|access-date=Sep 5, 2019|archive-date=December 21, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201221194936/https://twitter.com/ioerror/status/638735997396774912|url-status=live}}</ref><br />[[Noisebridge]],<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.noisebridge.net/wiki/User:Ioerror |title=Noisebridge user page |publisher=Noisebridge |access-date=11 October 2011 |archive-date=27 February 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120227091257/https://www.noisebridge.net/wiki/User:Ioerror |url-status=live }}</ref><br />[[WikiLeaks]]

* developer<ref name="tor" /> for [[The Tor Project]]<ref name="roll2010">{{cite news|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/culture/news/meet-the-american-hacker-behind-wikileaks-20101201|title=The American Wikileaks Hacker|first=Nathaniel|last=Rich|newspaper=[[Rolling Stone]]|date=1 December 2010|access-date=3 July 2014|quote=An anarchist street kid raised by a heroin- addict father, he dropped out of high school, taught himself the intricacies of code and developed a healthy paranoia along the way.|archive-date=17 March 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150317031320/http://www.rollingstone.com/culture/news/meet-the-american-hacker-behind-wikileaks-20101201|url-status=dead}}</ref>

| awards = 2014 [[Henri {{Interlanguage link multi|Nannen Prize|de|3=Nannen_Preis}}]]

'''Jacob Appelbaum''' (born 1 April 1, 1983)<ref name="artlyst">{{Cite web |url=https://artlyst.com/news/ai-weiwei-teams-up-with-wikileaks-activist-jacob-appelbaum-for-collaboration/ |title=Ai Weiwei Teams Up With Wikileaks Activist Jacob Appelbaum For Collaboration |date=2015-04-28 |website=Artlyst.com |access-date=2023-01-02 |archive-date=2023-01-02 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230102115756/https://artlyst.com/news/ai-weiwei-teams-up-with-wikileaks-activist-jacob-appelbaum-for-collaboration/ |url-status=live }}</ref> is an [[Americans|American]] independent journalist, [[computer security]] researcher, artist, and [[Hacking (innovation)|hacker]].

Appelbaum studied at the [[Eindhoven University of Technology]] and was a core member of the [[Tor (anonymity network)|Tor projectProject]], a [[free software]] network designed to provide online [[Anonymizer|anonymity]], until he stepped down from his position overafter multiple victims came forward with [[sexual abuse]] allegationsand whichrape surfacedallegations in 2016.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://blog.torproject.org/jacob-appelbaum-leaves-tor-project/ | title=Jacob Appelbaum leaves the Tor Project | publisher=Tor Project | date=2 June 2016 | access-date=10 July 2022 | archive-date=10 July 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220710180406/https://blog.torproject.org/jacob-appelbaum-leaves-tor-project/ | url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="Farivar-2016-06-05">{{cite web | url=https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2016/06/tor-developer-jacob-appelbaum-quits-after-sexual-mistreatment-allegations/ | title=Tor developer Jacob Appelbaum quits after "sexual mistreatment" allegations | publisher=Conde Nast | website=[[Ars Technica]] | date=5 June 2016 | access-date=5 June 2016 | author=Farivar, Cyrus | archive-date=7 June 2016 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160607014123/http://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2016/06/tor-developer-jacob-appelbaum-quits-after-sexual-mistreatment-allegations/ | url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="Ioerror-denies-allegations">{{cite web | url=https://twitter.com/ioerror/status/739731362404536320 | title=Twitlonger - When you talk too much for Twitter | date=6 June 2016 | access-date=10 July 2022 | author=Abbelbaum, Jacob | archive-date=10 July 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220710180359/https://twitter.com/ioerror/status/739731362404536320 | url-status=live }}</ref> He was among several people to work with [[NSA]] contractor [[Edward Snowden]]'s top secret documents released in 2013.<ref name="breakin"/> His journalistic work has been published in ''[[Der Spiegel]]'' and elsewhere. Appelbaum is also known for representing [[WikiLeaks]].<ref name="roll2010"/> He has displayed his art in a number of institutions across the world and has collaborated with artists such as [[Laura Poitras]], [[Trevor Paglen]], and [[Ai Weiwei]].<ref name="NYT Dissent" />

Under the [[pseudonym]] "ioerror," Appelbaum was an active member of the [[Cult of the Dead Cow]] hacker collective from 2008<ref name="Farivar-2016-06-05"/> to 2016, when sexual abuse allegations led to him being the only person to ever be ejected from the group.<ref name=":2">{{cite press release|title=CULT OF THE DEAD COW Statement on Jacob Appelbaum / ioerror|date=6 June 2016|publisher=Cult of the Dead Cow|url=http://w3.cultdeadcow.com/cms/2016/06/cult-of-the-dead-cow-statement-on-jacob-appelbaum-ioerror.html|access-date=2016-06-08|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160624051509/http://w3.cultdeadcow.com/cms/2016/06/cult-of-the-dead-cow-statement-on-jacob-appelbaum-ioerror.html|archive-date=24 June 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref> He was the co-founder of the [[San Francisco]] [[hackerspace]] [[Noisebridge]] with [[Mitch Altman]]. He worked for [[Kink.com]]<ref name="Hartwell">{{cite news | first=Lane | last=Hartwell | title=So Who Wants to F**k a Robot? | url=https://www.wired.com/underwire/2007/10/so-who-wants-to/ | newspaper=[[Wired.com]] | date=10 June 2007 | access-date=9 August 2013 | archive-date=31 March 2014 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140331081140/http://www.wired.com/2007/10/so-who-wants-to/ | url-status=live }}</ref> and [[Greenpeace]]<ref>{{cite news|url=http://weblog.greenpeace.org/intheforest/archives/001473.html |title=Geeks Love Trees, Too |date=22 June 2004 |access-date=26 January 2011 |last=Appelbaum |first=Jacob |newspaper=[[Greenpeace]] – Weblog |archive-date= 3 August 2004 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040803074600/http://weblog.greenpeace.org/intheforest/archives/001473.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> and volunteered for the [[Ruckus Society]] and the [[Rainforest Action Network]].<ref name="roll2010"/>

Many of these organizations, as well as his employer [[Tor (anonymity network)|Tor]], ended their association with Appelbaum in June 2016 following allegations of sexual abuse.<ref name=":2" /><ref name="Freedom of the Press Foundation ends association.">{{cite web | url=https://freedom.press/blog/2016/06/statement-jacob-appelbaum | title=Statement on Jacob Appelbaum | publisher=Freedom of the Press Foundation | access-date=8 June 2016 | author=Trevor, Timm | date=8 June 2016 | archive-date=8 June 2016 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160608220423/https://freedom.press/blog/2016/06/statement-jacob-appelbaum | url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="'Sam' and 'Forest' Reveal Identities"/><ref name="blog.noisebridge.net">{{cite web|title=Noisebridge Statement on Jacob Appelbaum|url=http://blog.noisebridge.net/post/145728465358/noisebridge-statement-on-jacob-appelbaum|website=Noisebridge Blog|access-date=16 June 2016|archive-date=14 June 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160614050852/http://blog.noisebridge.net/post/145728465358/noisebridge-statement-on-jacob-appelbaum|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Chaos Computer Club ban.">{{cite web | url=https://gizmodo.com/jacob-appelbaum-banned-from-prominent-hacker-conference-1782164249 | title=Jacob Appelbaum Banned From Prominent Hacker Conference Following Sexual Assault Allegations | website=Gizmodo | date=2016-06-17 | access-date=18 June 2016 | author=Turton, William | archive-date=2016-06-17 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160617215554/http://gizmodo.com/jacob-appelbaum-banned-from-prominent-hacker-conference-1782164249 | url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="Appelbaum Expelled from Debian">{{cite web|url=http://www.itwire.com/business-it-news/open-source/73415-security-expert-appelbaum-no-longer-part-of-debian.html|title=Security expert Appelbaum no longer part of Debian|date=18 June 2016|publisher=ITWire|access-date=2 July 2016|archive-date=23 June 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160623104201/http://www.itwire.com/business-it-news/open-source/73415-security-expert-appelbaum-no-longer-part-of-debian.html|url-status=live}}</ref> After a seven-week investigation led by an outside investigator, Tor concluded that many of the allegations of misconduct were accurate.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1">{{Cite web |date=2016-07-28 |title=Investigation confirms Jacob Appelbaum sexual misconduct at Tor Project |url=https://www.dailydot.com/debug/tor-project-jacob-appelbaum-sexual-assault-rape-investigation/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220329060025/https://www.dailydot.com/debug/tor-project-jacob-appelbaum-sexual-assault-rape-investigation/ |archive-date=2022-03-29 |access-date=2022-07-22 |website=The Daily Dot |language=en-US}}</ref> Appelbaum has denied the allegations.<ref name="Guardian Appelbaum denial">{{cite web | last=Yadron | first=Danny | title=Digital privacy activist Jacob Appelbaum denies colleagues' assault allegations | website=the Guardian | date=6 June 2016 | url=https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2016/jun/06/jacob-appelbaum-tor-denies-assault-allegations | access-date=12 July 2016}}</ref> Various activists and others publicly supported Appelbaum, voicing concerns about [[due process]], trial by [[social media]], and questioning the claims,<ref name="Die Presse und der Pranger">{{cite web|last1=Riegel|first1=Tobias|title=Die Presse und der Pranger|url=https://www.neues-deutschland.de/artikel/1015075.die-presse-und-der-pranger.html|website=neues deutschland|access-date=17 June 2016|date=13 June 2016|language=de|trans-title=The press and the pillory|archive-date=14 June 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160614120543/https://www.neues-deutschland.de/artikel/1015075.die-presse-und-der-pranger.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="faz.net">{{cite news|last1=Alphonso|first1=Don|title=Aktivistinnen rufen zum Ende der Hetzjagd gegen Appelbaum auf|url=https://www.faz.net/aktuell/feuilleton/medien/offener-brief-zu-vorwuerfen-ueber-jacob-appelbaum-14284019.html|newspaper=Faz.net|access-date=17 June 2016|date=13 June 2016|language=de|trans-title=Women activists call for an end to the witch-hunt against Jacob Appelbaum|archive-date=16 June 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160616130505/http://www.faz.net/aktuell/feuilleton/medien/offener-brief-zu-vorwuerfen-ueber-jacob-appelbaum-14284019.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="ourresponse.org">{{Cite web|url=https://ourresponse.org/|title=In solidarity with Jacob Applebaum and on the side of justice for all|date=Jun 8, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170608171941/https://ourresponse.org/|access-date=Sep 5, 2019|archive-date=2017-06-08}}</ref> while others credit the incident with changing the [[information security]] community's [[MeToo movement|attitude towards sheltering known abusers]].<ref name="Bernstein"/> The affair has had repercussions in the online privacy advocacy world.<ref name="Sexual Misconduct Scandal Explodes">{{cite news | url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-switch/wp/2016/07/27/what-you-should-know-about-the-sexual-misconduct-scandal-that-shook-the-privacy-world/#comments | title=Jacob Appelbaum was an online privacy hero. Then a sex misconduct scandal exploded | newspaper=The Washington Post | date=2016-07-28 | access-date=2016-07-30 | author=Peterson, Andrea | archive-date=2021-01-30 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210130224215/https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-switch/wp/2016/07/27/what-you-should-know-about-the-sexual-misconduct-scandal-that-shook-the-privacy-world/#comments | url-status=live }}</ref> U.S. news media treated the allegations as credible,<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" /> and reactions in Germany were mixed.<ref name="Die Zeit Contradictions-English">{{cite news

}}</ref><ref name=":3">{{Cite web |last=Boie |first=Johannes |title=Jacob Appelbaum weist Missbrauchsvorwürfe zurück |url=https://www.sueddeutsche.de/digital/jacob-appelbaum-missbrauchsvorwuerfe-erschuettern-berliner-hacker-szene-1.3022341 |access-date=2023-03-18 |website=Süddeutsche.de |date=6 June 2016 |language=de |archive-date=2023-03-18 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230318223035/https://www.sueddeutsche.de/digital/jacob-appelbaum-missbrauchsvorwuerfe-erschuettern-berliner-hacker-szene-1.3022341 |url-status=live }}</ref>

}}</ref> for investigative journalism. Appelbaum shared the prize with ''Der Spiegel'' writers and editors [[Marcel Rosenbach]], {{Interlanguage link multi|Jörg Schindler (journalist)|de|3=Jörg Schindler (Journalist)|lt=Jörg Schindler}}, and {{Interlanguage link multi|Holger Stark (journalist)|lt=Holger Stark|de|3=Holger Stark (Journalist)}}. A few days later he provoked a furor by condemning Nannen, the prize's namesake, for his Nazi collaboration,<ref name="Nannen collaboration">{{cite web

* The [[cold boot attack]], with [[J. Alex Halderman]], [[Seth Schoen]], [[Nadia Heninger]], William Clarkson, William Paul, Joseph A. Calandrino, Ariel J. Feldman, and [[Edward W. Felten]].<ref>{{cite news | first=John | last=Markoff | title=Researchers Find Way to Steal Encrypted Data | url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/22/technology/22chip.html?_r=3&hp&oref=slogin&oref=slogin&oref=slogin | newspaper=[[The New York Times]] | date=22 February 2008 | access-date=3 August 2010 | archive-date=20 February 2013 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130220001216/http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/22/technology/22chip.html?_r=3&hp&oref=slogin&oref=slogin&oref=slogin | url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="ColdBoot pub">{{cite web |url=http://citp.princeton.edu/memory/ |title=Lest We Remember: Cold Boot Attacks on Encryption Keys |author1=J. Alex Halderman |author2=[[Seth Schoen|Seth D. Schoen]] |author3=[[Nadia Heninger]] |author4=William Clarkson |author5=William Paul |author6=Joseph A. Calandrino |author7=Ariel J. Feldman |author8=Jacob Appelbaum |author9=[[Edward W. Felten]] |location=San Jose, CA |publisher=[[Princeton University]] |date=21 February 2008 |access-date=9 August 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110722182409/http://citp.princeton.edu/memory/ |archive-date=22 July 2011 }}</ref> Winner of [[USENIX]] Security Best Student Paper award and the [[Pwnie Awards|Pwnie Award]] for Most Innovative Research.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://pwnies.com/archive/2008/winners/ | title=Winners of Pwnie Awards 2008 | publisher=pwnies.com | access-date=9 August 2016 | archive-date=12 August 2016 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160812172928/http://pwnies.com/archive/2008/winners/ | url-status=dead }}</ref>

Appelbaum is also a photographer who has contributed still photographs to film and game projects.<ref name="IMDB projects">{{cite web |url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm3335834/?ref_=fn_al_nm_1 |title=Jacob Appelbaum |website=imdb.com |access-date=31 July 2016 |archive-date=13 October 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221013134953/https://www.imdb.com/name/nm3335834/?ref_=fn_al_nm_1 |url-status=live }}</ref> He exhibited his work in a solo show at NOME in 2016.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nomeproject.com/news/nome-presents-jacob-appelbaums-first-solo-show |access-date=6 June 2016 |title=NOME presents Jacob Appelbaum's first solo show |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160625085031/http://nomeproject.com/news/nome-presents-jacob-appelbaums-first-solo-show |archive-date=25 June 2016 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

Appelbaum appeared in [[Laura Poitras]]'s [[Academy Awards|Academy Award]]-winning film ''[[Citizenfour]]'' (2014),<ref name="IMDB Citizenfour">{{cite web |url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt4044364/fullcredits?ref_=tt_ov_st_sm |title=Citizenfour (2014) Full Cast & Crew |website=imdb.com |access-date=31 July 2016 |archive-date=13 October 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221013134952/https://www.imdb.com/title/tt4044364/fullcredits?ref_=tt_ov_st_sm |url-status=live }}</ref> which documents the public emergence of [[National Security Agency|NSA]] whistle-blower [[Edward Snowden]] and the political circumstances leading to his actions. Appelbaum stars in Poitras's portrait of [[WikiLeaks]] founder [[Julian Assange]], [[Risk (2016 film)|''Risk'']] (2016).<ref name="IMDB Risk">{{cite web |url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt4964772/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1 |title=Risk (2016) |website=imdb.com |access-date=31 July 2016 |archive-date=8 May 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170508074744/http://www.imdb.com/title/tt4964772/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1 |url-status=live }}</ref> Appelbaum worked with Canadian film-maker [[Jamie Kastner]] for his documentary, "Nobody Wants to Talk About Jacob Appelbaum." The film was screened for buyers in September 2023.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Benzine |first=Adam |date=2023-09-07 |title=Doc 'Nobody Wants to Talk About Jacob Appelbaum' Gets Buyers Screening at Toronto (EXCLUSIVE) |url=https://variety.com/2023/film/news/doc-nobody-wants-to-talk-about-jacob-appelbaum-1235715781/ |access-date=2023-12-02 |website=Variety |language=en-US |archive-date=2023-12-02 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231202034522/https://variety.com/2023/film/news/doc-nobody-wants-to-talk-about-jacob-appelbaum-1235715781/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

In August 2013, Appelbaum delivered Edward Snowden's acceptance speech after he was awarded the biannual Whistleblower Prize by a group of NGOs at the [[Berlin-Brandenburg Academy of Sciences and Humanities]].<ref name="heise-1922132">{{cite web|url=http://www.heise.de/newsticker/meldung/Whistleblower-Preis-fuer-Edward-Snowden-1922132.html |title=Whistleblower-Preis für Edward Snowden |access-date=25 July 2013 |author=Detlef Borchers |date=23 July 2013 |website=[[Heise Online]] |archive-date=26 July 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130726140433/http://www.heise.de/newsticker/meldung/Whistleblower-Preis-fuer-Edward-Snowden-1922132.html |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>Edward Snowden: [http://www.zeit.de/digital/datenschutz/2013-09/edward-snowden-whistleblower-preis-rede/komplettansicht ''Die Wahrheit auszusprechen, hat Whistleblower ihre Freiheit gekostet'' - the acceptance speech in English and German] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140202145102/http://www.zeit.de/digital/datenschutz/2013-09/edward-snowden-whistleblower-preis-rede/komplettansicht |date=2014-02-02 }}, ''Die Zeit'', 3 September 2013</ref>

Appelbaum says he believes he has been under government surveillance since 2009, to the detriment of himself, his friends, and his close relations.<ref name="exberliner.com">{{Cite web |last=Schneider |first=Ruth |date=Sep 22, 2014 |title=Jacob Appelbaum: Revolutionary times |url=https://www.exberliner.com/berlin/jacob-appelbaum-on-the-usa-and-nsa/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150509030245/http://www.exberliner.com/features/people/jacob-appelbaum-on-the-usa-and-nsa/ |archive-date=May 9, 2015 |access-date=Feb 9, 2023 |website=EXBERLINER.com}}</ref> In interviews he has stated that living in Germany has given him a sense of relief from U.S. surveillance.<ref name="motherboard.vice.com">{{Cite web|url=http://motherboard.vice.com/blog/jacob-appelbaum-utopia-interview|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131029195151/http://motherboard.vice.com/blog/jacob-appelbaum-utopia-interview|url-status=dead|title=John Lubbock, "Jacob Appelbaum's Utopia", Vice News, 6 October 2013|archive-date=October 29, 2013|access-date=Sep 5, 2019}}</ref> Appelbaum has described various aggressive surveillance events, and implies they are related to his work with [[WikiLeaks]], to his privacy activism, and to relationships with other privacy activists, notably reporters linked to [[Edward Snowden]].<ref name="exberliner.com" /> In December 2013, Appelbaum said he suspected the U.S. government of breaking into his Berlin apartment and using his computer.<ref name="breakin" />

While traveling, Appelbaum has been detained at airports and had his electronic equipment seized several times.<ref name="DemocracyNow2">Democracy Now!: [http://www.democracynow.org/2012/4/20/we_do_not_live_in_a "We Don’tDon't Live in a Free Country": Jacob Appelbaum on Being Target of Widespread Gov’tGov't Surveillance |Democracy Now!] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150907211628/http://www.democracynow.org/2012/4/20/we_do_not_live_in_a |date=2015-09-07 }}</ref><ref name=AppelbaumAirport>{{cite news |first=Elinor |last=Mills |title=Researcher detained at U.S. border, questioned about Wikileaks |url=http://news.cnet.com/8301-27080_3-20012253-245.html |publisher=[[CNET Networks|CNET News]] |date=31 July 2010 |access-date=3 August 2010 |archive-date=10 March 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130310204021/http://news.cnet.com/8301-27080_3-20012253-245.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |first=Xeni |last=Jardin |title=Wikileaks volunteer detained and searched (again) by US agents |url=http://www.boingboing.net/2011/01/12/wikileaks-volunteer-1.html |newspaper=[[Boing Boing]] |date=12 January 2011 |access-date=12 January 2011 |archive-date=13 January 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110113004611/http://www.boingboing.net/2011/01/12/wikileaks-volunteer-1.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |first=Paul |last=Fontain |title=Jacob Appelbaum Detained At Keflavík Airport |url=http://grapevine.is/News/ReadArticle/Jacob-Appelbaum-Detained-At-Keflavik-Airport |newspaper=[[Grapevine]] |date=27 October 2011 |access-date=31 October 2011 |archive-date=29 October 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111029222553/http://grapevine.is/News/ReadArticle/Jacob-Appelbaum-Detained-At-Keflavik-Airport |url-status=live }}</ref>

In 2019, he told reporters that he had been contacted by Alexandria prosecutors about cooperating with the WikiLeaks grand jury for immunity, but had refused.<ref>{{Cite web |title=U.S. prosecutors press witnesses to testify against Assange-WikiLeaks |url=https://news.yahoo.com/u-prosecutors-press-witnesses-testify-against-assange-wikileaks-220435691.html |access-date=2022-07-22 |website=news.yahoo.com |date=23 January 2019 |language=en-US |archive-date=2022-07-22 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220722062456/https://news.yahoo.com/u-prosecutors-press-witnesses-testify-against-assange-wikileaks-220435691.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

In March 2015, Appelbaum was suspended from his position at the Tor Project for ten days due to alleged incidents of harassment.<ref>{{cite magazine|last1=Greenberg|first1=Andy|title=Tor Developer Jacob Appelbaum Resigns Amid Sex Abuse Claims|url=https://www.wired.com/2016/06/tor-developer-jacob-appelbaum-resigns-amid-sex-abuse-claims/|magazine=Wired|publisher=Condé Nast|access-date=19 June 2016|date=6 June 2016|archive-date=25 June 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160625115809/https://www.wired.com/2016/06/tor-developer-jacob-appelbaum-resigns-amid-sex-abuse-claims/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Bernstein-2016-06-10">{{cite web |last1=Bernstein |first1=Joseph |date=10 June 2016 |title=Sources: Tor Project Board Knew Of Allegations Against Jacob Appelbaum For Over A Year |url=https://www.buzzfeed.com/josephbernstein/sources-tor-project-board-knew-about-allegations-against-jac |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160610135925/https://www.buzzfeed.com/josephbernstein/sources-tor-project-board-knew-about-allegations-against-jac |archive-date=10 June 2016 |access-date=19 June 2016 |website=BuzzFeed |publisher=BuzzFeed Inc.}}</ref><ref name="Gierow-2016-06-08">{{cite web |last=Gierow |first=Hauke |date=8 June 2016 |title=Appelbaum wurde bereits 2015 von Tor suspendiert |url=http://www.golem.de/news/missbrauchsvorwuerfe-appelbaum-wurde-bereits-2015-von-tor-suspendiert-1606-121375.html |access-date=19 June 2016 |website=Golem.de |language=de}}</ref>

On 25 May 2016, Appelbaum stepped down from his position at [[The Tor Project, Inc|Tor]];<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://blog.torproject.org/blog/jacob-appelbaum-leaves-tor-project |title=Jacob Appelbaum leaves the Tor Project |date=2 June 2016 |publisher=[[The Tor Project, Inc]] |access-date=4 June 2016 |archive-date=25 August 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160825185827/https://blog.torproject.org/blog/jacob-appelbaum-leaves-tor-project |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |url=https://mic.com/articles/145279/jacob-appelbaum-digital-rights-activist-leaves-tor-amid-sexual-misconduct-allegations |title=Jacob Appelbaum, Digital Rights Activist, Leaves Tor Amid Sexual Misconduct Allegations |work=[[Mic (media company)|Tech.Mic]] |first=Jack, IV |last=Smith |date=4 June 2016 |access-date=5 June 2016 |archive-date=27 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210127133128/https://www.mic.com/articles/145279/jacob-appelbaum-digital-rights-activist-leaves-tor-amid-sexual-misconduct-allegations |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="Steele-2016-06-04">{{Cite web |url=https://blog.torproject.org/blog/statement |title=Statement |first=Shari |last=Steele |publisher=[[The Tor Project, Inc]] |date=4 June 2016 |access-date=5 June 2016 |archive-date=15 August 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170815214243/https://blog.torproject.org/blog/statement |url-status=live }}</ref> this was announced on 2 June by the non-profit in a terseshort statement.<ref name="Two-Line Statement">{{cite web | url=http://news.softpedia.com/news/jacob-appelbaum-leaves-tor-project-over-multiple-sexual-misconduct-accusations-504873.shtml | title=Jacob Appelbaum Leaves Tor Project amid Multiple "Sexual Misconduct" Accusations: Tor Project leadership distances itself from Appelbaum as the "sexual misconduct" accusations gain more ground | publisher=Softpedia | date=5 June 2016 | access-date=1 August 2016 | author=Cimpanu, Catalin | archive-date=5 February 2021 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210205173106/https://news.softpedia.com/news/jacob-appelbaum-leaves-tor-project-over-multiple-sexual-misconduct-accusations-504873.shtml | url-status=live }}</ref> On 4 June, [[Shari Steele]], the former executive director of the Tor projectProject, published a much longer statement, noting that although prior allegations of [[sexual abuse]] regarding Appelbaum were consistent with "rumors some of us had been hearing for some time," that "the most recent allegations are much more serious and concrete than anything we had heard previously."<ref name="Farivar-2016-06-05"/><ref name=Beuth>{{cite webnews | url=http://www.zeit.de/digital/internet/2016-06/tor-projekt-trennt-sich-von-jacob-appelbaum | title=Abuse allegations against Jacob Appelbaum | website=[[Die Zeit]] | date=5 June 2016 | access-date=5 June 2016 | author=Beuth, Patrick | archive-date=5 June 2016 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160605231833/http://www.zeit.de/digital/internet/2016-06/tor-projekt-trennt-sich-von-jacob-appelbaum | url-status=live }}</ref>

Also on 4 June, a website appeared with anonymous accounts of mistreatment by Appelbaum.<ref name="Unwanted Sexual Advances Described">{{cite web | url=https://gizmodo.com/eyewitnesses-recount-tor-developer-jacob-appelbaum-s-un-1781048751 | title=Eyewitnesses Recount Tor Developer Jacob Appelbaum's Unwanted Sexual Advances | website=Gizmodo | date=7 June 2016 | access-date=9 June 2016 | author=Turton, William}}</ref> On 6 June, Appelbaum issued a statement denouncing the allegations as part of a concerted strategy to damage his reputation.<ref name="Guardian Appelbaum denial" /><ref name="Gizmodo Appelbaum denial">{{cite web |last=Turton |first=William |date=6 June 2016 |title=Tor Developer Jacob Appelbaum Resigns, Denies Sexual Assault Claims |url=https://gizmodo.com/tor-developer-jacob-appelbaum-denies-sexual-assualt-acc-1780440997 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160712015112/http://gizmodo.com/tor-developer-jacob-appelbaum-denies-sexual-assualt-acc-1780440997 |archive-date=12 July 2016 |access-date=12 July 2016 |website=Gizmodo}}</ref><ref name="Condé Nast">{{cite web |last1=Farivar |first1=Cyrus |date=6 June 2016 |title=Breaking silence, ex-Tor developer decries "vicious and spurious allegations" |url=https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2016/06/ex-tor-dev-jacob-appelbaum-denies-criminal-sexual-misconduct-allegations/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160608055635/http://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2016/06/ex-tor-dev-jacob-appelbaum-denies-criminal-sexual-misconduct-allegations/ |archive-date=8 June 2016 |access-date=6 June 2016 |website=Ars Technica |publisher=Condé Nast}}</ref> Security engineer Leigh Honeywell came forward on 7 June to publicly relate the website's stories with her relationship with Appelbaum, in which she described Appelbaum ignoring a [[safeword]] and becoming violent.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Larson|first1=Selena|title=Security engineer goes public about Appelbaum: 'I felt afraid and violated'|url=http://www.dailydot.com/politics/jacob-appelbaum-harassment-woman-comes-forward/|website=The Daily Dot|access-date=14 June 2016|date=7 June 2016|archive-date=13 June 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160613132933/http://www.dailydot.com/politics/jacob-appelbaum-harassment-woman-comes-forward/|url-status=live}}</ref> An anonymously leaked letter that the Tor Project's human resources manager had written to Appelbaum in conjunction with his March 2015 suspension for unprofessional conduct was published on 7 June.<ref name="Bernstein-2016-06-10" /><ref name="Gierow-2016-06-08" /><ref>{{cite web |date=7 June 2016 |title=Jacob Appelbaum Suspension |url=http://www.fearlessblogging.com/post/view/33546 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160612092845/http://www.fearlessblogging.com/post/view/33546 |archive-date=12 June 2016 |access-date=19 June 2016 |website=fearlessblogging.com}}</ref> On 15 June, [[Alison Macrina]] (the director of the [[Library Freedom Project]]) and Isis Lovecruft (a [[Tor (anonymity network)|Tor]] developer) publicly announced that the website's anonymous accounts of sexual abuse, under the pseudonyms of "Sam" and "Forest," respectively, were their own.<ref name="'Sam' and 'Forest' Reveal Identities">{{cite news | url=http://www.dailydot.com/politics/jacob-appelbaum-sexual-assault-alison-macrina/ | title=2 more people publicly allege sexual misconduct by Jacob Appelbaum | work=The Daily Dot | date=15 June 2016 | access-date=15 June 2016 | last1=Cameron | first1=Dell | last2=Larson | first2=Selena | archive-date=16 June 2016 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160616051211/http://www.dailydot.com/politics/jacob-appelbaum-sexual-assault-alison-macrina/ | url-status=live }}</ref>

On 10 June, a woman whom three witnesses claimed to have seen being abused,<ref name="Unwanted Sexual Advances Described" /> denied the abuse allegations.<ref name="DailyDot Baehring denial">{{cite web |last1=Cameron |first1=Dell |last2=O'Neill |first2=Patrick Howell |title=Woman refutes claims that Jacob Appelbaum sexually harassed her |website=The Daily Dot |date=10 June 2016 |url=http://www.dailydot.com/layer8/jacob-appelbaum-jill-bahring-statement/ |access-date=12 July 2016 |archive-date=15 July 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160715001214/http://www.dailydot.com/layer8/jacob-appelbaum-jill-bahring-statement/ |url-status=live }}</ref> In a statement released by Gizmodo journalist William Turton, she wrote that her experience was distorted and reported without her consent.<ref name="Gizmodo Baehring denial">{{cite web | last=Turton | first=William | title=Jill Bahring: I Was Not Assaulted by Jacob Appelbaum | website=Gizmodo | date=9 June 2016 | url=https://gizmodo.com/jill-bahring-i-was-not-assaulted-by-jacob-appelbaum-1781684838 | access-date=12 July 2016}}</ref> On 17 June 2016, activists, journalists and legal professionals supporting Appelbaum signed a document defending his right to due process, and deploring the story's treatment by social media.<ref name="Die Presse und der Pranger"/><ref name="faz.net"/><ref name="ourresponse.org"/> In June 2016, the façade of the building in which Appelbaum's Berlin apartment is located was defaced in English and German with [[graffiti]] directly referencing the allegations.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Winterbauer|first1=Stefan|title=Jacob Appelbaum und Gina-Lisa Lohfink: Sex als Ware und Waffe im Netz und in den Medien|url=http://meedia.de/2016/06/13/jacob-appelbaum-und-gina-lisa-lohfink-sex-als-ware-und-waffe-im-netz-und-in-den-medien/|website=Meedia|access-date=17 June 2016|date=13 June 2016|language=de|trans-title=Jacob Appelbaum and Gina-Lisa Lohfink: Sex as a commodity and weapon on the net and in the media}}</ref>

In July 2016, the Tor Project announced it had completed a seven-week investigation led by a hired investigator. According to Shari Steele, Tor Project "did everything in our power" to treat Mr. Appelbaum fairly, butand "we determined that the allegations against him appear to be true."<ref name=":0">{{cite news

}}</ref><ref name=":1" /> According to her summary of the investigation, which was not released, "many people inside and outside the Tor Project have reported incidents of being humiliated, intimidated, bullied, and frightened" by Jacob Appelbaum, and that "several experienced unwanted sexually aggressive behavior from him."<ref name=":1" /> Steele made no mention of rape claims published on the anonymous website.<ref name="'Sam' and 'Forest' Reveal Identities" /><ref name="Unwanted Sexual Advances Described" />

Appelbaum is an [[Atheism|atheist]] of [[Jews|Jewish]] background and identifies himself as [[queer]].<ref name="roll2010"/> Politically, he is an [[Anarchism|anarchist]].<ref name="roll2010"/><ref>{{cite web|title=Jacob Appelbaum (Part 1/2) Digital Anti-Repression Workshop - April 26, 2012|website=[[YouTube]]|date=27 April 2012 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=HHoJ9pQ0cn8#at=3323|access-date=28 June 2013|quote=Like, for me, as an atheist, bisexual, Jew, I'm gonna go on, uh - oh and Emma Goldman is one of my great heroes and I really think that anarchism is a fantastic principle by which to fashion a utopian society even if we can't get there.|archive-date=17 October 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131017175258/https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=HHoJ9pQ0cn8#at=3323|url-status=live}}</ref>

In 2012, he moved to [[Berlin]],.<ref name="exberliner.com"/> heHe has stated that he doesn'tdoes not want to go back to the U.S.United States because he doesn't feel safe there<ref>{{cite web |url=https://gnunet.org/tor2013tum-video |title=Video: Roger Dingledine and Jacob Appelbaum: Q&A |website=GNU |access-date=June 1, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150814044053/https://gnunet.org/tor2013tum-video |archive-date=August 14, 2015}}</ref> and in interviews he has provided specific examples of experiences that left him feeling unsafe.<ref name="exberliner.com"/>

{{Reflist|30em}}

[[Category:ComputerAmerican securityqueer specialistsmen]]

[[Category:HackersUniversity of Washington people]]