Pen-Link

Pen-Link, Ltd. (PenLink)
HeadquartersLincoln, Nebraska, USA
ProductsPLX, Pen-Link 8, LINCOLN2, PenProxy, Xnet
OwnerSpire Capital
Websitehttp://www.penlink.com/

Pen-Link, Ltd., (PenLink) is a software company that develops enterprise-grade communications surveillance data collection and analysis products for domestic law enforcement.[1]

History

In July 2023, PenLink merged with Israeli surveillance contractor Cobwebs Technologies, when the latter was acquired for $200 million by private equity firm Spire Capital, which also owns PenLink.[2][3]

Products

PenLink's flagship products include PLX, PenPoint, and Tangles.

One of the more publicized uses of PenLink's products was during the Laci Peterson murder case, where wiretaps taken with Pen-Link 8 and LINCOLN2 were used as evidence against Scott Peterson.

Tangles is a web platform, originally developed and sold by Cobwebs Technologies, that scrapes data from the open web, deep web, and dark web, as well as allowing for the tracking of mobile devices within a user-designated area, in a process known as "geofencing," through an optional add-on feature called WebLoc.[4]

Clients

The company's clients include US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), which signed a $2.7 million two-year contract with PenLink, and in 2024 the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) signed a $5.3 million five-year contract with the company to supply it with a surveillance tool known as Tangles through 2029, which Texas DPS has used since 2021.[4]

See also

References

  1. ^ Mullin, Chet (2007-09-25). "Pen-Link employees cash in on growing surveillance business". Kearney Hub. Archived from the original on 2019-08-20. Retrieved 2020-09-11.
  2. ^ Orbach, Meir (2023-07-11). "Web intelligence startup Cobwebs acquired for $200 million by private equity firm Spire Capital". Calcalist. Archived from the original on 2023-08-03. Retrieved 2024-09-05.
  3. ^ Green, Mitch (2023-07-11). "Cobwebs Technologies Joins PenLink to Expand its Digital Investigative Platform". PenLink. Archived from the original on 2024-06-14. Retrieved 2024-09-05.
  4. ^ a b D’Annunzio, Francesca (2024-08-26). "Texas State Police Gear Up for Massive Expansion of Surveillance Tech". The Texas Observer. Archived from the original on 2024-09-04. Retrieved 2024-09-05.


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