The Harvey Weinstein scandal has outed a shadowy corporate spy firm and its Israeli actress agent
Without the Harvey Weinstein sexual assault and harassment scandal, few people would have ever heard of Black Cube, a private investigation firm founded in 2010 that advertises itself as "a select group of veterans from the Israeli elite intelligence units that specializes in tailored solutions to complex business and litigation challenges."
But 10 days ago, The New Yorker reported that Weinstein had hired Black Cube to unearth information about actress Rose McGowan, who was writing a book in which she alleges Weinstein sexually assaulted her, and reporter Ben Wallace. McGowan and Wallace identified the same woman, a Black Cube agent, who had used false identities and pretenses to approach them.
Last week, surveillance video of the agent posted by The Wall Street Journal alerted Canadian hedge fund West Face that Black Cube was trying to get information from its employees through an elaborate ruse centered in London, and then Britain's Daily Mail identified the woman in both operations, plus another involving New York insurance firm AmTrust, as Stella Penn Pechanac, an Israeli former air force lieutenant, music video actress, and Black Cube undercover agent.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Lots of companies and law firms hire investigators to collect information on adversaries or other targets, "but experts in the field say Black Cube's tactics are more aggressive than most," The Wall Street Journal says, and Pechanac's outing in particular offers "a rare view into a dark corner of corporate espionage." Now that her cover is blown, Pechanac's performance had gotten mixed reviews. McGowan was taken in, but in court filings Wednesday, West Face employees pointed to mistakes she made. Wallace had the deepest cut, telling the Journal, "It makes sense she went into private investigating, not acting, because I found her acting skills not stellar."
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.
-
Today's political cartoons - April 20, 2024
Cartoons Saturday's cartoons - papal ideas, high-powered debates, and more
By The Week US Published
-
5 sleeper hit cartoons about Trump's struggles to stay awake in court
Cartoons Artists take on courtroom tranquility, war on wokeness, and more
By The Week US Published
-
The true story of Feud: Capote vs. The Swans
In depth The writer's fall from grace with his high-flying socialite friends in 1960s Manhattan is captured in a new Disney+ series
By Adrienne Wyper, The Week UK Published
-
Empty-nest boomers aren't selling their big homes
Speed Read Most Americans 60 and older do not intend to move, according to a recent survey
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Brazil accuses Musk of 'disinformation campaign'
Speed Read A Brazilian Supreme Court judge has opened an inquiry into Elon Musk and X
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Disney board fends off Peltz infiltration bid
Speed Read Disney CEO Bob Iger has defeated activist investor Nelson Peltz in a contentious proxy battle
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Disney and DeSantis reach detente
Speed Read The Florida governor and Disney settle a yearslong litigation over control of the tourism district
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Visa and Mastercard agree to lower swipe fees
Speed Read The companies will cap the fees they charge businesses when customers use their credit cards
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Reddit IPO values social media site at $6.4 billion
Speed Read The company makes its public debut on the New York Stock Exchange
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Housing costs: the root of US economic malaise?
speed read Many voters are troubled by the housing affordability crisis
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Feds cap credit card late fees at $8
speed read The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau finalized a rule to save households an estimated $10 billion a year
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published