After his first arrest for sex crimes, Jeffrey Epstein tried to get into a new line of work: surveillance. In 2015, he partnered with former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak to invest in a security tech startup called Reporty Homeland Security, now known as Carbyne. Leaked emails show that Epstein was using Barak to seek out opportunities in the surveillance industry and build connections with powerful figures around the globe, including American businessman Peter Thiel, the former director of Israeli signals intelligence, and two people in Russian President Vladimir Putin’s circle.

After he was first caught sexually exploiting teenage girls, Epstein had pleaded guilty to soliciting prostitution in 2008; he served a little over a year in detention. Meanwhile, he invested his wealth in bizarre projects, including a ranch to breed women with his DNA and “efforts to identify a mysterious particle that might trigger the feeling that someone is watching you,” according to The New York Times.

The leaked emails show that Epstein was also interested in more mundane means of spying on and manipulating people, which overlapped with the technologies governments often pursue. This interest crossed borders.

Jeffrey Epstein engaged in security tech by investing his vast fortune in, and building connections with, surveillance and security-related companies, particularly after his 2008 conviction. Leaked emails from former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak revealed Epstein’s efforts to get involved in the surveillance industry and his connections with powerful figures in tech and intelligence.

Epstein’s Security and surveillance investments

Carbyne (formerly Reporty): In 2015, Epstein partnered with Ehud Barak to invest in Reporty, a startup that aimed to overhaul 911 emergency dispatch technology. Epstein actively used Barak to build connections in the surveillance industry to seek new opportunities. The investment was structured to conceal Epstein’s involvement.

Epstein used his connections to arrange meetings between Ehud Barak and Peter Thiel, the co-founder of the surveillance contractor Palantir. Epstein later invested $40 million into Valar Ventures, a venture capital firm co-founded by Thiel, and reportedly pitched Carbyne to the fund in 2016.

Levitection: In 2016, Barak also asked Epstein to invest in Levitection, an electromagnetic imaging startup whose staff were veterans of an Israeli weapons company. The company later won a contract with the US Department of Homeland Security.

Pursuit of a “military-like” tech perspective
Leaked emails show Epstein was highly interested in security-related technology and surveillance. In one email, he wrote that he was “AMAZED by the rate of which technology has moved into the private sector” and that many companies were “looking for a new military like perspective on mgmt”. This reflected his interest in positioning himself at the intersection of private money and public surveillance.

Fifth Dimension: In 2015, Barak consulted Epstein about an intelligence company called Fifth Dimension, which was backed by a Russian businessman allied with Vladimir Putin. The company’s pitch included using AI to transform data into intelligence, along with maps tracking individuals.

Broader tech and science connections: Beyond security, Epstein also cultivated relationships with many prominent figures in the broader tech and science worlds, funding research and attending exclusive gatherings. He had deep connections to the MIT Media Lab, where he funded research and leveraged his connections to solicit donations from others, including Bill Gates. Some of Epstein’s ventures were tied to transhumanism and genetic engineering, including an ambition to “seed the human race with his DNA”.

Reason Magazine, Matthew Petti