Editing Crypto AG (section)

===Major Exposure and Fallout===
On February 11, 2020, a joint investigation by The Washington Post, Germany’s ZDF, and Switzerland’s SRF, based on a leaked 280-page CIA history and BND dossier, exposed Operation Rubicon as the “intelligence coup of the century.” The revelations detailed Crypto’s CIA-BND ownership, backdoor rigging, and global espionage, sparking significant fallout:

Swiss Government Response: In November 2019, Swiss authorities were informed of Crypto’s ties, suspending export licenses for CyOne and Crypto International AG. In January 2020, a retired federal judge was appointed to investigate, with a report released in November 2020 confirming Swiss government awareness since the 1990s, contradicting claims of neutrality. In 2021, Switzerland launched a parliamentary inquiry, only the fifth in its history, with Social Democrats, Greens, and Free Democrats supporting a Parliamentary Investigation Commission (PUK).

German Reaction: Bundestag member Konstantin von Notz (Greens) demanded government clarification in the Parliamentary Control Committee (PKGr), reflecting concerns about BND’s role and its impact on EU relations. The BND viewed Rubicon as a “brilliant operation,” regretting its 1993 exit, per NPR’s Greg Miller.

International Fallout: Countries like Iran, Libya, and Argentina, long-time Crypto clients, faced embarrassment for trusting rigged equipment. The revelations fueled distrust in Western technology, with China’s Foreign Minister Geng Shuang citing Crypto as evidence of U.S. hacking dominance, per Secureworld.io. Nigeria, a Crypto client, left machines unused due to operational failures, as noted on X (@LRNZH).

Corporate Impact: CyOne Security issued a statement in 2020, unable to comment on Crypto’s history, while Crypto International AG collapsed, laying off most staff. The operation’s profits had funded CIA acquisitions, but its exposure highlighted vulnerabilities in global encryption markets.

Public and Academic Discourse: The exposure, dubbed “Crypto Leaks,” prompted comparisons to modern surveillance scandals (e.g., Edward Snowden’s 2013 NSA leaks) and debates about tech sovereignty. World Socialist Web Site noted the operation’s role in Cold War coups (e.g., Chile’s 1973 Allende overthrow), while ObCrypto emphasized Brazil’s compromised communications.