The Moloch and its accompanying podcast, Virtual Verity, are a hobbyist journalism project for tracking technology-related happenings in InfoSec, OSINT, and Conflict spaces.
It is currently run by Mark Bruno. Mark was a non-commissioned officer in the United States Army, where he served as a Combat Medic and a Public Affairs Representative. He holds a Master’s Degree in Cybersecurity and Information Assurance, a Bachelor of Science in Communication, and is currently receiving a second Master’s in International Relations. His current research is largely focused on state surveillance.
Aspiring to a career in Conflict Journalism and Digital Rights Advocacy, his areas of security interest are in military medicine, infosec, and weapons technology.
Statements made on The Moloch Blog are his own. He does not represent any other organizations unless explicitly published by them.
Why “Moloch”?
The word “Moloch” refers to an ancient Canaanite deity that was associated with child sacrifice. In modern usage, the term is sometimes used to refer to an entity or system that demands unreasonable or harmful sacrifices.
The Moloch’s ultimate goal is to track technology’s impact on society or the drawbacks and risks of technological advancements, so it seemed appropriate.
Mark also picked it because it felt catchy, and is a huge hater of Alex Jones, who popularized Moloch’s presence in modern conspiracy theories. Largely associated with the symbols of horned beasts and owls, Moloch has been co-opted as a boogeyman deity for various conspiratorial subjects such as the Bohemian Grove or Illuminati.
