Matrix was a special app that allowed users to hide their identity. It allowed users to make video calls and manage money safely. Police started investigating Matrix after they found the app in the car of a shooter when crime journalist Peter R. de Vries was attacked in 2021.
Authorities watched the app for months. They could read messages while they were sent. In total, they looked at over 2.3 million messages. The app worked on over 40 servers worldwide, making users feel their messages were safe.
Matrix was mainly used on Google Pixel phones. It cost between 1,300 and 1,600 euros for a six-month subscription. Users could only join if they were invited by someone. Many people communicated in 33 different languages. The app was controlled from Spain, and its owner is believed to be from Lithuania. So far, two people have been arrested.
Vocabulary List:
- Authorities /əˈθɔrɪtiz/ (noun): Organizations or individuals with power or control in a specific area.
- Investigating /ɪnˈvɛstəˌɡeɪtɪŋ/ (verb): The process of examining or inquiring into a subject in a systematic way.
- Subscription /səbˈskrɪpʃən/ (noun): An arrangement to receive something regularly often for a fee.
- Communicated /kəˈmjunɪˌkeɪtɪd/ (verb): To share or exchange information or messages with others.
- Identity /aɪˈdɛntɪti/ (noun): The characteristics or qualities that make a person or group different.
- Criminal /ˈkrɪmɪnəl/ (adjective): Relating to crime or unlawful acts.
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