Ex-Rippling worker confessed he spied on employer for rival firm Deel — and was paid $5K a month to ‘be like James Bond’

New York Post - Apr 3rd, 2025

A high-profile corporate espionage case has emerged involving Keith O’Brien, a tech worker at Rippling, who confessed to being recruited by Deel CEO Alex Bouaziz to spy on his employer. O’Brien alleged in an affidavit that he was paid more than $5,000 a month to gather sensitive information from Rippling’s Dublin office for Deel, an HR operations company. The operation, reminiscent of a spy thriller, involved encrypted communications, self-deleting messages, and a plan to flee to Dubai to avoid detection. The plot was uncovered when Rippling set up a 'honey pot' trap after receiving leaked documents, leading to O’Brien's confession and the subsequent lawsuit against Deel for racketeering and trade secret misappropriation.

The case underscores the intensity of competition within the tech industry, especially among companies valued at over $10 billion like Rippling and Deel. The allegations, if true, could have significant legal and reputational ramifications for Deel, whose executives allegedly orchestrated the espionage. The use of sophisticated tactics, including cryptocurrency for payments and encrypted messaging for communication, highlights potential vulnerabilities in corporate security. As the case unfolds, it raises questions about ethical boundaries in business competition and the measures companies might take to protect their proprietary information.

Tech Industry Trade Secrets Corporate Espionage Keith O'brien Alex Bouaziz Deel Rippling Encrypted Communication

Story submitted by Fairstory

RATING

7.8

Fair Story

Consider it well-founded

The article provides a compelling account of a corporate espionage case involving major tech companies Rippling and Deel. Its strengths lie in its detailed narrative and the use of credible sources such as court documents and affidavits. The story is timely and relevant, addressing important issues of corporate ethics and competitive practices. However, its reliance on a single primary source and the lack of diverse perspectives slightly undermine its balance and source quality. The article would benefit from additional verification and responses from the accused parties to provide a more comprehensive view. Despite these limitations, the article is well-written, engaging, and likely to spark meaningful discussion among readers interested in corporate governance and ethics.

Accuracy

The story presents a detailed account of alleged corporate espionage involving Rippling and Deel, with specific claims about the involvement of key figures like Keith O’Brien and Alex Bouaziz. The narrative is supported by court documents and an affidavit, lending credibility to the claims. However, while the story is rich in specifics, such as the use of encrypted messaging apps and coded payments, these details would benefit from corroboration through independent sources or official statements from involved parties. The lack of public comments from Alex and Philippe Bouaziz creates a gap in verifying their direct involvement. Overall, the story aligns well with the known facts but requires additional verification for full accuracy.

Balance

The story primarily presents the perspective of Keith O’Brien, who is central to the allegations. While it includes a denial from a Deel spokesperson, asserting the company's innocence, the narrative heavily leans on O’Brien’s affidavit. This creates an imbalance, as the story lacks counter-narratives or perspectives from other involved parties, such as Alex Bouaziz or independent legal experts. Including more viewpoints would provide a more balanced representation of the situation, ensuring that readers receive a comprehensive understanding of the events.

Clarity

The article is well-structured and uses clear language to describe a complex legal case. It effectively breaks down the espionage plot, detailing the methods and communications involved, which aids in reader comprehension. The use of direct quotes from O’Brien’s affidavit adds to the narrative's clarity, providing readers with a vivid account of the events. The logical flow of the story, from the initial recruitment to the unraveling of the scheme, ensures that readers can easily follow the developments.

Source quality

The primary source of the story is an affidavit submitted to an Irish court, which is a credible and authoritative document in legal proceedings. The story also references court documents, adding to its reliability. However, the reliance on a single primary source—O’Brien’s account—without additional corroboration from other independent sources or verification from the accused parties, slightly diminishes the overall source quality. Including more diverse sources, such as legal experts or independent investigations, would enhance the article's credibility.

Transparency

The story provides a clear account of the events based on court documents, but it lacks transparency regarding how the information was obtained beyond O’Brien’s affidavit. There is no disclosure of potential conflicts of interest or the methodology used to verify the claims. The article could improve transparency by explaining the process of obtaining the affidavit and any efforts made to reach out to all parties involved for comments. This would help readers understand the basis of the claims and any factors that might affect impartiality.