Psy-Group

Psy-Group
Company typePrivate Limited Company
Industrysocial media influencing
Competitive Intelligence
Risk Consulting
FoundedDecember 22, 2014[1]
Defunct2018
Headquarters
Tel Aviv & Washington, D.C.
Key people
Royi Burstien
Number of employees
30 +

Psy-Group is a former Israeli private intelligence agency. It closed after revelations that it was under investigation by Special Counsel Robert Mueller.[2][3][4][5]

Psy-Group’s CEO was Royi Burstein, a former lieutenant colonel in the Israel Defense Forces.[6]

The company conducted online perception management, social media influencing/manipulation campaigns, opposition research, honey traps, and clandestine on-the-ground activities for clients.[2][7][8][9]

  1. ^ "Report of the Select Committee on Intelligence United States Senate on Russian active measures campaigns and interference in the 2016 U.S. Election volume 1: Russian efforts against election infrastructure with additional views" (PDF). August 18, 2020. p. 694. Psy Group was founded in Israel on December 22, 2014, as a private intelligence firm specializing in collection and analysis of information, as well as online reputation management and targeted influence.
  2. ^ a b Entous, Adam; Farrow, Ronan (18 February 2019). "Private Mossad for Hire". New Yorker. Retrieved 13 February 2019.
  3. ^ Mazzetti, Mark (8 October 2018). "Rick Gates Sought Online Manipulation Plans From Israeli Intelligence Firm for Trump Campaign". New York Times. Retrieved 13 February 2019.
  4. ^ Ward, James (12 February 2019). "TRMC saga just got weirder: Now Benzeevi, HCCA allegedly tied to Israeli spies". Visalia Times-Delta. Retrieved 13 February 2019.
  5. ^ Rawnsley, Erin Banco|Adam (2019-02-12). "Swiss Mystery Company Is at the Heart of a Mueller Puzzle". Retrieved 2019-06-05.
  6. ^ staff, JI|Adam (2018-05-23). "Jewish Insider's Daily Kickoff: May 23, 2018". Retrieved 2020-01-21.
  7. ^ "PSYGroup: Shape Reality" (PDF) (Brochure) – via Wall Street Journal.
  8. ^ Ganon, Lilach Baumer, Orr Hirschauge and Tomer (2018-10-09). "Psy-Group CEO Touted Company's Ability to "Change Public Discourse" on a National Level". CTECH - www.calcalistech.com. Retrieved 2019-06-05.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  9. ^ Cite error: The named reference NY2 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).