Met suspends digital forensics software amid US allegations over Russian ownership
The Metropolitan Police has suspended use of Oxygen Forensics software following US allegations that the supposedly American company is secretly owned by Russians and developed in Moscow. US prosecutors have accused the firm's chief executive Lee Reiber and Russian national Oleg Sergeyevich Davydov of concealing the company's true ownership, raising serious questions about the integrity of digital forensics tools used in criminal investigations across multiple countries.
The US Department of Justice alleges that five Russian nationals controlled Oxygen through a Cyprus-based holding company, whilst the actual software development took place at MKO Systems in Moscow, which sold versions of the technology to Russian agencies including the FSB. The Met Police confirmed the software was used in less than 0.2 per cent of its digital forensics cases over the past year and that no investigation data was shared with Oxygen, though other UK police forces and European authorities including Romania and Latvia have also suspended or begun terminating their use. Davydov was arrested at Heathrow Airport last month and refused bail in a UK court, with US authorities pressing for his extradition.
- Met Police suspends Oxygen Forensics software after US alleges secret Russian ownership
- Less than 0.2 per cent of cases affected; no investigation data shared with the company
- Russian national arrested at Heathrow; European forces also suspending the tool
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Oxygen Forensics is software used by police and investigators to examine digital evidence from devices such as mobile phones and computers during criminal investigations. The software has been widely used by police forces across multiple countries. The integrity of such tools is essential to modern criminal justice, as digital evidence is now central to many cases.
US prosecutors have alleged that the company has deceived customers about its true ownership and origins. They claim Oxygen is secretly controlled by Russian nationals and was actually developed in Moscow, rather than being the American company it purports to be. According to the allegations, versions of the software have been sold to Russian intelligence agencies including the FSB.
The Metropolitan Police has suspended its use of the software in response to these allegations, noting that it was used in fewer than one in five hundred cases. Police forces in other countries, including Romania and Latvia, have also stopped or are ceasing to use it. The Met has confirmed that no investigation data was shared with Oxygen itself.
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Originally published by The Register as “Met Police suspends use of phone-hacking software over Russian links”.