The company Unciphered found itself at the center of a scandal after allegations of sexual assault against one of its co-founders, Morgan Marquis-Boire, surfaced.
Morgan Marquis-Boire's Allegations and Past
Morgan Marquis-Boire was first accused of sexual assault in 2017 when multiple women came forward. These allegations forced him to withdraw from public view. Various companies, including Citizen Lab, cut ties with him and criticized the toxic culture of discrimination and violence in the tech industry. Despite this, he later helped found Unciphered under the pseudonym 'Frank Davidson' to conceal his involvement.
Impact on Unciphered's Reputation
The connection with Marquis-Boire raised concerns among Unciphered's employees about the company's reputation. Former FBI cybersecurity expert Jon Ellch called for Marquis-Boire's removal from the company. Following multiple complaints, CEO Eric Michaud resigned, and Marquis-Boire left the company. However, employees remained worried about his potential continued influence.
Company's Response to the Scandal
Unciphered's administration reassured employees that all of Marquis-Boire's shares were bought out in February 2024, and he was no longer associated with the company. For security reasons, the company removed employee names from its website.
Unciphered continues to take steps to protect the company's reputation and distance itself from allegations associated with one of its former co-founders.
