Sam Bankman-Fried’s (SBF) lawyers struggle to install monitoring software on his parents’ phones, hindering compliance with bail conditions.
In a recent development, Sam Bankman-Fried’s legal representatives have requested a third extension on implementing his updated bail conditions. The former FTX CEO’s legal team is struggling to install monitoring software on his parents‘ cell phones, which must snap a photo of the user every five minutes. The Southern District of New York received a court filing from attorneys Mark Cohen and Christian Everdell on April 19, stating that they had managed to enforce all other conditions outlined in the Order, except for the cell phone monitoring requirement.
The legal team discovered that the monitoring software installed on the new cell phones acquired for Bankman-Fried’s parents is unable to automatically take pictures of the user every five minutes, as the Order mandates.
Optimism Amid Software Challenges
Despite the challenges, Cohen and Everdell remain optimistic about finding a solution to monitor the cell phones. They have requested additional time to conduct further tests on the software to confirm its capabilities. While the legal team requested an extension until April 21 to find a solution, there is currently no evidence that they have been successful.
In the interim, the attorneys requested that Bankman-Fried’s parents may continue using their existing cell phones until they reach a resolution. Ken Gamble, the executive chairman of private intelligence firm IFW Global, believes there is a conflict between the choice of phone model and the monitoring implemented software. Gamble noted that certain newer phone models are unable to install the latest monitoring software due to built-in security measures on the devices.
Compatibility Issues with Latest Phone Models
Gamble emphasized that the latest iPhones, for example, cannot have monitoring software implemented without first “jailbreaking the device.” He suggested that the solution may involve exploring alternative cell phones for Bankman-Fried’s parents that are compatible with the installation of the monitoring software. He stated that resolving the issue will take time, as they need to identify the technical problem, find the solution, and potentially make another application to the court for more time while they find the preferred phone.
Concerns Over SBF’s Access to Devices
Judge Kaplan highlighted that Bankman-Fried had a “garden of electronic devices” with access to the internet at his parents’ home. The judge warned that there was “probable cause” to believe that Bankman-Fried attempted to tamper with witnesses.
On March 28, SBF’s parents consented to limit his access to their devices while also signing affidavits agreeing not to bring prohibited electronic devices into their home. Previously, on March 4, Kaplan proposed that Bankman-Fried can no longer use smartphones, tablets, computers, and any video game platforms or devices that allow chat and voice communication. The proposal stated that Bankman-Fried’s communication should be limited to a “flip phone or other non-smartphone with either no internet capabilities or internet capabilities disabled.”
As the legal team continues to address these monitoring software challenges, it remains to be seen how the situation will unfold and if they can find a compatible solution to meet the court’s requirements.