In the United States, a district court in Massachusetts convicted American service member Jack Douglas Teixeira of disclosing classified Pentagon information he accessed through the Discord platform and sentenced him to 15 years in prison, according to ABC News.
Following the sentence, sources indicate he would face an additional two years under administrative detention.
The same broadcaster reports that prosecutors urged a 17 year term, arguing Teixeira committed one of the most significant breaches of the Espionage Act in recent American history.
Earlier reports described Teixeira, accused of stealing and publishing Pentagon documents he accessed in the line of duty, as having pleaded guilty and accepted a 16 year sentence. He was arrested on April 13, 2023 by federal authorities for allegedly transmitting sensitive material that he encountered through his official role.
Colleagues involved in the investigation described his eccentricities and troubling beliefs. They noted he repeatedly spoke about obtaining more weapons and explosives and fantasized about a life off the grid on a vast tract of land where he could blow anything up, a pattern that raised concerns among those who worked with him.
Earlier leaks included Pentagon data detailing battles such as Artemovsk, illustrating how digital channels can become vessels for sensitive information and prompting debates about security protocols and oversight across government agencies.