Rippling wants UK fintech Revolut to reveal who paid off Deel’s alleged ‘spy’

Tech Crunch - Apr 16th, 2025
Open on Tech Crunch

In a dramatic twist to the ongoing legal battle between Rippling and Deel, U.K. fintech leader Revolut has been drawn into the fray. Keith O'Brien, a Rippling employee, claims he was paid $6,000 monthly to spy on his company, with the first payment allegedly transferred to his Revolut account by Alba Basha Westgarth, wife of Deel’s COO. The payment raises questions about the involvement of various parties, as Alba was reportedly working with Robinhood at that time. Rippling is now suing Revolut to uncover the identity of the sender, pushing for documentation like IDs and utility bills, although Revolut is navigating strict EU privacy laws in this request.

The case highlights the complexity of international legal disputes involving major tech companies. With key figures like Deel’s CEO and legal director located in Dubai, an extradition haven, serving legal papers becomes challenging for Rippling. Revolut's response to Rippling's request has been described as 'helpful but complicated,' with no court order yet mandating disclosure. The situation underscores the intricate balance between corporate espionage allegations and privacy regulations, with potential implications for cross-border legal cooperation and data privacy norms. The Irish High Court may yet play a pivotal role in resolving this tangled affair.

Story submitted by Fairstory

RATING

6.8
Fair Story
Consider it well-founded

The news story provides a detailed account of a complex legal situation involving major fintech companies, capturing the intrigue and seriousness of the allegations. It scores well in terms of clarity and timeliness, offering a coherent narrative that is current and relevant. However, the story's accuracy and balance could be improved by providing more verifiable evidence and a fuller representation of all parties involved. The reliance on uncorroborated claims from a single source and the lack of detailed responses from Deel and Revolut limit the story's impact and engagement potential. Overall, while the article is engaging and touches on important issues, its effectiveness is tempered by gaps in evidence and perspective.

RATING DETAILS

7
Accuracy

The story provides a detailed account of the legal entanglements involving Rippling, Deel, and Revolut. It accurately describes key elements such as the involvement of Keith O'Brien, the alleged payment through Revolut, and the legal actions taken by Rippling. However, the claim about the payment to O'Brien and the identity of Alba Basha Westgarth require further verification, as these are pivotal to the narrative. The story does not provide concrete evidence for these claims, relying instead on statements from O'Brien and references to deleted online profiles, which are less verifiable. The story also accurately notes the absence of accusations against Revolut, aligning with the legal complexities of EU privacy laws.

6
Balance

The article predominantly presents Rippling's perspective, focusing on its legal actions and the evidence it has gathered. While it mentions Deel's denial of wrongdoing, it lacks a detailed exploration of Deel's side of the story. The absence of comments from Deel's representatives and the reliance on Rippling's narrative create an imbalance. The article could benefit from a more comprehensive representation of Deel's position, as well as Revolut's, to provide a fuller picture of the situation.

8
Clarity

The article is generally clear and well-structured, providing a coherent narrative of the legal issues at hand. The language is straightforward, and the story unfolds logically, making it accessible to readers. However, some complex legal terms and references to EU privacy laws could have been explained more thoroughly to enhance reader understanding. Overall, the article maintains a neutral tone, which aids in clarity.

7
Source quality

The story cites specific sources such as court records and statements from involved parties, which add credibility to the reporting. However, it relies heavily on an affidavit from Keith O'Brien, whose claims are central but uncorroborated by independent sources. The mention of a deleted LinkedIn profile and a Facebook photo as evidence also raises questions about the robustness of the sources. While the article references TechCrunch for additional context, the depth of source verification could be improved.

6
Transparency

The article provides some transparency by mentioning the sources of its information, such as court records and statements from involved parties. However, it lacks a clear explanation of the methodology used to verify key claims, such as the payment details and the identity of Alba Basha Westgarth. The absence of detailed information about how the evidence was obtained and verified impacts the transparency of the reporting.

Sources

  1. https://www.rippling.com/blog/lawsuit-alleges-12-billion-unicorn-deel-cultivated-spy-orchestrated-long-running-trade-secret-theft-corporate-espionage-against-competitor
  2. https://techcrunch.com/2025/04/16/rippling-wants-uk-fintech-revolut-to-reveal-who-paid-off-deels-alleged-spy/
  3. https://techcrunch.com/2025/04/15/deels-ceo-is-now-in-dubai-complicating-ripplings-lawsuit/
  4. https://www.hrdive.com/news/corporate-spy-confession-hr-deel-rippling-lawsuit/745195/
  5. https://report.woodard.com/articles/affidavit-details-alleged-information-sharing-between-former-rippling-employee-and-deel-fpwr