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The CIA's Secret Weapon 🤫
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Finlay Williams
September 30, 2024
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This is not your average venture capital firm story. In-Q-Tel (IQT) is the CIA’s personal venture capital firm, and their mission isn’t to back the next Uber or TikTok. Their mission is to make sure the CIA has access (and control) to the most advanced tech on the planet, stuff that could be used to defend against cyberattacks, track down terrorists, defend the country or even safeguard space assets. IQT is the CIA’s way of creating the tech they need to retain global dominance.
Back door deals and ultimatums 🧐
Government agencies aren’t exactly known for being fast or nimble. But the tech world is. So, to bridge that gap, the CIA founded IQT in 1999. The idea was simple but genius, invest in startups before their cutting-edge tech goes mainstream, and make sure the CIA is always armed with the latest innovations. Although the CIA claims IQT is an independent company, here’s a quote from former CIA director George Tenet that should help you form your own opinion “While we pay the bills, In-Q-Tel is independent of CIA” 😆
Instead of developing everything in-house (and spending billions while falling behind), the CIA decided to outsource innovation. They saw that the private sector, startups especially, was pumping out disruptive technology faster than anyone could keep up. So, IQT steps in to fund companies to build the tools they need. This way, the CIA gets access to the best innovations before anyone else, and can shape the landscape of this tech…
What are the nuggets? 💎
🚀 Origin Story: Founded in 1999 with CIA backing, IQT was born from the realisation that the private sector could innovate faster than any government agency ever could. A game developer named Gilman Louie was tapped to run it, because he had that unique mix of nerdy tech knowledge and an outside-the-box mindset.
🚀 Backdoor Deals: The CIA isn’t just passively investing through IQT, they’re shaping the entire direction of tech industries. By strategically funding startups, they’re essentially molding the future of what tech will look like, not just for national security, but for the world at large. Some of the tech funded by IQT comes with hidden strings. Ever wonder how intelligence agencies stay a step ahead? IQT-backed companies may include built-in access for government surveillance or data gathering. These aren't just tools to help fight crime or terrorism, they're potential surveillance networks disguised as commercial tech.
🚀 The "Kill Switch": This might sound like sci-fi, but IQT’s influence also gives the CIA unmatched control over global tech infrastructure. They can fund the creation of systems with built-in off-switches for when things go south. If the CIA wants to shut down a satellite network or neutralise a critical piece of software, they’ll already have the access they need.
🚀 Creating Dependencies: IQT doesn't just invest in startups to innovate, they invest to control. Once these startups become dependent on IQT’s cash and government contracts, they’re locked in. The CIA ensures that these companies can’t operate without their influence, ensuring that any breakthrough tech stays under their thumb.
🚀 Ghost Investors: A lot of IQT’s investments are hidden, and the companies they back may not even realise the CIA’s involvement. By using IQT as a front, the CIA can infiltrate industries quietly, without anyone asking too many questions. This means they can influence tech without leaving fingerprints, all while remaining the silent puppet masters behind the scenes.
🚀 Information Domination: IQT-backed companies often sit on mountains of data, whether it’s from satellites, cybersecurity, or AI-driven surveillance. And guess who gets first dibs on that data? The CIA. Every tech investment IQT makes isn’t just about cool gadgets, it’s about information warfare. The more startups they control, the more access the CIA has to data streams that shape global decision-making. Think Google Earth is just for mapping? Guess again. Google Earth is the rebranded product of Keyhole; IQT funded mapping tech. [source1] [source2]
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