CIA Releases Files From Osama bin Laden's Computer

Overview

Bin Laden Files refer to documents taken from the computer of late terrorist and orchestrator behind the September 11th, 2001 Attacks, Osama bin Laden. On November 1st, 2017, the CIA released the files taken from bin Laden’s compound in Abbottabad, Pakistan, leading to intense internet scrutiny as internet users discovered banal and quotidian files, including memes, movies, and video games.

Background

On November 1st, 2017, the CIA released 470,000 files taken from Osama bin Laden’s compound in Abbottabad Pakistan. CIA Director Mike Pompeo said the release allows the American people to see the inner workings of bin Laden’s mind and his terrorist organization, Al-Qaeda.^[2] The files included bin Laden’s journal as well as promotional materials for Al-Qaeda. The CIA withheld sensitive materials found on the computer such as pornography and malware, as well as family films including Cars, Chicken Little, etc. As of the morning of November 2nd, the site hosting the list of files^[1] is down with a technical issue and redirects to the CIA’s home page.

Developments

While political sites such as CNN^[2] focused on the political materials found in the release, several websites covering the release found fascination with the less political, more entertaining files in the release. Wired^[3] noted that in addition to the political files one might expect from bin Laden, the files also contained “hallmarks of any person who uses the internet.” This included a copy of Final Fantasy VII and a download of viral video Charlie Bit My Finger. However, it is unclear if these files were used by bin Laden himself or members of his family or others at the compound.

Online Reaction

Online, Twitter users were fascinated by the pop culture items found in the release. User @KenXyro^[4] discovered a copy of the first episode of noted hentai series Bible Black (shown below, left). User and journalist @ashleyfeinberg^[5]discovered files that showed those in the compound kept up with Illuminati conspiracies (shown below, right).