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>"As of October 2014 the CIA was also looking at infecting the vehicle control systems used by modern cars and trucks. The purpose of such control is not specif

>"As of October 2014 the CIA was also looking at infecting the vehicle control systems used by modern cars and trucks. The purpose of such control is not specified, but it would permit the CIA to engage in nearly undetectable assassinations." Reminds me of the reporter who was supposedly working on a massive investigation and then died in a flaming car crash while skipping town. Forgot his name

struct 10y ago
Michael Hastings? [0] [0] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Hastings_(journalist) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Hastings_(journalist)
- 1001101 10y ago
  I had the same thought. Rest in peace.
- knowaveragejoe 10y ago
  While the above is certainly plausible(killing someone with a car), I highly doubt this is the case here: https://www.metabunk.org/debunked-michael-hastings-crash-cars-just-dont-blow-up-kim-dvorak.t2148/#post-62380 https://www.metabunk.org/debunked-michael-hastings-crash-car...
  - digler999 10y ago
    While I don't think the CIA is above killing a US citizen on US soil (you know, for "security" or something), I don't think they need to hack a vehicle to do it, nor would they want to draw the unnecessary speculation and attention. I would expect antics like that to be reserved for high-ranking foreign officials or other hard-to-reach people. If there's one thing that agency should be expected to excel in, it's untraceable targeted killings.
    - rattray 10y ago
      Given the relatively low amount of public scrutiny/outrage/attention/fear that this death caused, wouldn't you say that the car technique would be effective? (whether or not it was used in this case)
      - digler999 10y ago
        It's effective at taking a life. However I disagree that the fallout was "relatively low", compared to even a badly staged suicide, or "gang violence", "road rage", or a "botched robbery". IIRC a democratic organization employee was recently slain in DC from a "botched robbery" or something and nobody blinked an eye except in the more fringe communities. To me, that's how you snuff someone out, or OD them on insulin and have an official coroner report say "natural causes". I think a fiery single car crash at top speed is a pretty high profile event, almost up there with polonium poisoning.
        u_wot_m8 10y ago
        seth rich, killed execution style, nothing stolen, reported a robbery. Assange implied he was the source of the DNC leaks
        aluhut 10y ago
        Just like a guy named Jack Burkman. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jack_Burkman https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jack_Burkman who offered $105,000 against the $25,000 from the Metropolitan Police Department, for information about his death. With all parties having reasons so see Rich dead, I'd say it may become semi-relevant part in the cinematic workup of the Trump era.
        tomjakubowski 10y ago
        What's the evidence he was killed "execution style"? Note: being shot in the back is not evidence of being killed "execution style".
  - 6nf 10y ago
    I'm sorry but that thread doesn't debunk this at all
    - knowaveragejoe 10y ago
      Is there a specific claim there that says to you it isn't debunked?
      - 6nf 10y ago
        At the time former US National Coordinator for Security, Infrastructure Protection, and Counter-terrorism Richard Clarke told The Huffington Post the crash was “consistent with a car cyber attack”. “There is reason to believe that intelligence agencies for major powers [know how to remotely seize control of a car],” he said.
        knowaveragejoe 10y ago
        Quite late, but that was never in question. The issue is whether this was. Also, a source on the exact quotation would be nice.
mikeyouse 10y ago
I can't believe this meme won't die -- it's so incredibly disrespectful to his family. Honestly no better than the Sandy Hook Truther bullshit. Michael Hastings was a recovering alcoholic and meth-abuser whose brother, Jonathan, had flown into town the day before because he suspected that Michael was having a manic breakdown similar to the ones he had in the past. Jonathan had been called to LA since several of Michael's coworkers had reached out about his mental state. After spending the day with Michael, Jonathan called their third brother to come help get Michael back into rehab. That brother arranged to fly out the next day but that night, at 4:30am, Michael snuck out of his apartment and crashed his car into a tree at very high speed. Here's what Jonathan Hastings thinks about his brother's death: I really rule out foul play entirely. I might have been suspicious if I hadn’t been with him the day before he died. After all, he definitely was investigating and writing about a lot of sensitive subjects. But based on being with him and talking to people who were worried about him in the weeks leading up to his death, and being around him when he had had similar problems when he was younger, I was pretty much convinced that he wasn’t in danger from any outside agency. https://www.salon.com/2013/11/05/michael_hastings_life_and_death_a_brothers_reflections/ https://www.salon.com/2013/11/05/michael_hastings_life_and_d...
- djsumdog 10y ago
  That doesn't explain the photos of the car's aftermath. I mean, it's just as likely people pressured his family to say this (either organized crime or the government .. really the same thing). It's not dying because it's highly suspicious and the narrative doesn't fit, the news reports are conflicting and much of the evidence is gone.
  - mikeyouse 10y ago
    > That doesn't explain the photos of the car's aftermath. Do you realize how ridiculous this sounds? I take it you're an experienced crash-scene investigator? How exactly would an accident scene differ if the accident were caused by a CIA-backed exploit vs. your standard high speed crash? > I mean, it's just as likely people pressured his family to say this (either organized crime or the government .. really the same thing). No, it's really not just as likely. In fact it's not likely at all.

struct 10y ago

Michael Hastings? [0] [0] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Hastings_(journalist) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Hastings_(journalist)

1001101 10y ago
I had the same thought. Rest in peace.
knowaveragejoe 10y ago
While the above is certainly plausible(killing someone with a car), I highly doubt this is the case here: https://www.metabunk.org/debunked-michael-hastings-crash-cars-just-dont-blow-up-kim-dvorak.t2148/#post-62380 https://www.metabunk.org/debunked-michael-hastings-crash-car...
- digler999 10y ago
  While I don't think the CIA is above killing a US citizen on US soil (you know, for "security" or something), I don't think they need to hack a vehicle to do it, nor would they want to draw the unnecessary speculation and attention. I would expect antics like that to be reserved for high-ranking foreign officials or other hard-to-reach people. If there's one thing that agency should be expected to excel in, it's untraceable targeted killings.
  - rattray 10y ago
    Given the relatively low amount of public scrutiny/outrage/attention/fear that this death caused, wouldn't you say that the car technique would be effective? (whether or not it was used in this case)
    - digler999 10y ago
      It's effective at taking a life. However I disagree that the fallout was "relatively low", compared to even a badly staged suicide, or "gang violence", "road rage", or a "botched robbery". IIRC a democratic organization employee was recently slain in DC from a "botched robbery" or something and nobody blinked an eye except in the more fringe communities. To me, that's how you snuff someone out, or OD them on insulin and have an official coroner report say "natural causes". I think a fiery single car crash at top speed is a pretty high profile event, almost up there with polonium poisoning.
      - u_wot_m8 10y ago
        seth rich, killed execution style, nothing stolen, reported a robbery. Assange implied he was the source of the DNC leaks
        aluhut 10y ago
        Just like a guy named Jack Burkman. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jack_Burkman https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jack_Burkman who offered $105,000 against the $25,000 from the Metropolitan Police Department, for information about his death. With all parties having reasons so see Rich dead, I'd say it may become semi-relevant part in the cinematic workup of the Trump era.
        tomjakubowski 10y ago
        What's the evidence he was killed "execution style"? Note: being shot in the back is not evidence of being killed "execution style".
- 6nf 10y ago
  I'm sorry but that thread doesn't debunk this at all
  - knowaveragejoe 10y ago
    Is there a specific claim there that says to you it isn't debunked?
    - 6nf 10y ago
      At the time former US National Coordinator for Security, Infrastructure Protection, and Counter-terrorism Richard Clarke told The Huffington Post the crash was “consistent with a car cyber attack”. “There is reason to believe that intelligence agencies for major powers [know how to remotely seize control of a car],” he said.
      - knowaveragejoe 10y ago
        Quite late, but that was never in question. The issue is whether this was. Also, a source on the exact quotation would be nice.

mikeyouse 10y ago

I can't believe this meme won't die -- it's so incredibly disrespectful to his family. Honestly no better than the Sandy Hook Truther bullshit. Michael Hastings was a recovering alcoholic and meth-abuser whose brother, Jonathan, had flown into town the day before because he suspected that Michael was having a manic breakdown similar to the ones he had in the past. Jonathan had been called to LA since several of Michael's coworkers had reached out about his mental state. After spending the day with Michael, Jonathan called their third brother to come help get Michael back into rehab. That brother arranged to fly out the next day but that night, at 4:30am, Michael snuck out of his apartment and crashed his car into a tree at very high speed. Here's what Jonathan Hastings thinks about his brother's death: I really rule out foul play entirely. I might have been suspicious if I hadn’t been with him the day before he died. After all, he definitely was investigating and writing about a lot of sensitive subjects. But based on being with him and talking to people who were worried about him in the weeks leading up to his death, and being around him when he had had similar problems when he was younger, I was pretty much convinced that he wasn’t in danger from any outside agency. https://www.salon.com/2013/11/05/michael_hastings_life_and_death_a_brothers_reflections/ https://www.salon.com/2013/11/05/michael_hastings_life_and_d...

djsumdog 10y ago
That doesn't explain the photos of the car's aftermath. I mean, it's just as likely people pressured his family to say this (either organized crime or the government .. really the same thing). It's not dying because it's highly suspicious and the narrative doesn't fit, the news reports are conflicting and much of the evidence is gone.
- mikeyouse 10y ago
  > That doesn't explain the photos of the car's aftermath. Do you realize how ridiculous this sounds? I take it you're an experienced crash-scene investigator? How exactly would an accident scene differ if the accident were caused by a CIA-backed exploit vs. your standard high speed crash? > I mean, it's just as likely people pressured his family to say this (either organized crime or the government .. really the same thing). No, it's really not just as likely. In fact it's not likely at all.