FTX CEO Sam Bankman-Fried, who is currently awaiting trial in federal court, may soon be allowed to conduct legal research online, keep up with news and sports, shop on Amazon, and place food delivery orders. This comes after U.S. Attorney Damian Williams submitted a letter to the court requesting adjustments to the conditions of SBF’s bail.
Last month, a previous request that focused on messaging applications was rejected by Federal Judge Lewis Kaplan. However, after consultation with SBF’s legal team, Williams submitted a new request that established an allowlist of websites SBF could visit on a specially configured laptop.
The list of websites is divided into two categories: websites that are necessary for SBF’s participation in the preparation of his defense, and websites that SBF would like to use for other purposes that the government has determined do not pose a risk to national security.
While SBF awaits his day in court, he will be able to access websites such as LexisNexis, Westlaw, and PACER for legal research, as well as news and sports websites, Amazon, and food delivery services. The government has also allowed SBF to access social media websites for the purpose of maintaining his business relationships.
The decision to allow SBF access to these websites has been met with mixed reactions. Some argue that it is necessary for SBF to have access to these resources in order to prepare for his trial, while others believe that it sets a dangerous precedent for allowing individuals accused of crimes to have access to the internet.
SBF is currently facing charges of market manipulation and fraud related to his involvement in the cryptocurrency industry. His trial is set to begin in November.
