Former Michigan, NFL Coach Accused of Hacking into Accounts of Over 3,000 Female Athletes
A former assistant coach in the National Football League and a longtime staffer at the University of Michigan has been accused of hacking into the accounts of over 3,300 mostly female college athletes in order to download "personal, intimate photographs" that were not publicly shared.
Matt Weiss Pleads Not Guilty to Multiple Counts
Matt Weiss, a 42-year-old former Michigan and Baltimore Ravens assistant coach, pleaded not guilty to 24 counts of unauthorized access to computers and aggravated identity theft on Monday at an arraignment in Detroit, according to ESPN.
A 14-Page Indictment Unfolds
The indictment, which spans a period of approximately seven years, reveals that Weiss gained access to the social media, email, and iCloud accounts of the female athletes through a third-party contractor, Keffer Development Services. This contractor, which handles the medical information for around 150,000 athletes at over 100 schools, including Westmont College in California, allegedly allowed Weiss to infiltrate these accounts.
The indictment states that Weiss' alleged crimes, which include "state torts of Invasion of Privacy" in Michigan, Maryland, and Pennsylvania, as well as a separate charge in California, involved downloading personal, intimate photographs from the athletes' accounts. These photographs were not publicly shared and are described as being of a private nature.
The Scope of the Breach
According to the indictment, Weiss' actions affected approximately 3,300 mostly female college athletes at various schools, including Westmont College, Michigan, and other institutions. The FBI reportedly contacted the victims associated with Westmont, but any information shared in this investigation was done so with their consent.
A Class Action Lawsuit Filed
Two former female Michigan athletes have filed a class action lawsuit against Weiss, the university, its board of regents, and Keffer Development Services over the alleged breach. The lawsuit seeks damages for the unauthorized access to their personal information and the distribution of intimate photographs.
No Charges of Extortion or Sale
It's worth noting that Weiss is not charged with publishing, selling, or sharing what he found in his hacking operation. His attorney declined comment following the arraignment, as did Keffer Development Services.
The case against Matt Weiss raises serious questions about data security and privacy, particularly among student-athletes who may be most vulnerable to exploitation. As investigators continue to build their case, one thing is clear: the alleged hacking operation has left a trail of devastating consequences for countless young women.