Hunter Moore

Hunter Edward Moore (born March 1986)[1][2] is an American convicted criminal from Sacramento, California. Rolling Stone called him "the most hated man on the Internet."[3][4][5] In 2010, he created the revenge porn website Is Anyone Up? which allowed users to post sexually explicit photos of people online without their consent, often accompanied by personal information such as their names and addresses. He refused to take down pictures on request.[4] Moore called himself "a professional life ruiner" and compared himself to Charles Manson.[6] The website was up for 16 months, during which Moore stated several times he was protected by the same laws that protect Facebook.[3] Moore also paid a hacker to break into email accounts of victims and steal private photos to post.[7]

Hunter Moore
Born (1986-03-09) March 9, 1986
Sacramento, California, U.S.
NationalityAmerican
Known forIs Anyone Up?

The FBI started an investigation on Moore in 2012 after receiving evidence from the mother of one of the victims.[6] The site was closed in April 2012 and sold to an anti-bullying group.[8] In February 2015, Moore pleaded guilty to felony charges for aggravated identity theft and aiding and abetting in the unauthorized access of a computer. In November 2015, Moore was sentenced to two years and six months in prison, a $2,000 fine, and $145.70 in restitution.[9] He was released from prison in May 2017.

In 2022, Netflix released The Most Hated Man on the Internet, a docuseries about Moore.[10][11] Although Moore initially agreed to take part in the series, he then declined.[12] The series reached No. 3 on the Netflix top 10.[13]

Early life and education

Moore was born in March 1986 and he grew up in Woodland, California.[14] He attended and was expelled from Woodland Christian School.[15][16]

Is Anyone Up?
Main article: Is Anyone Up?

Moore started the website Is Anyone Up? in 2010. Moore stated that the site was originally intended to be a nightlife website, but after he and some friends received sexually explicit pictures from women they were involved with at the time, the site was changed, featuring revealing photos and videos of people who were not professional models, linked to their social networking profiles on Facebook or Twitter.[7] Many of the subjects were outraged by inclusion on the site; in many cases the photos had been stolen from their hacked personal computers or shared without consent by former boyfriends or girlfriends as a form of revenge. Because of this, the site's content became known as "revenge porn". Moore reportedly responded to multiple cease-and-desist letters with simply "LOL" and would regularly argue that the law protected his activities.[3]

Moore claimed that the website attracted 30 million page views monthly as well as yielding $8,000 to $13,000 a month in ad revenue.[4][17] In response to public bragging by Moore about the website, BBC News named Moore "the Net's most hated man" and Rolling Stone called him "the most hated man on the Internet".[3][4][5] Due to the site, Moore was banned from Facebook.[18][19]

Moore eventually faced numerous lawsuits and an FBI investigation.[20][21] He was also stabbed in the shoulder with a pen by a woman who had been featured on the site.[3][21][22] Moore lived with his grandmother for a period of time while he feared he would be murdered in his sleep due to constant death threats.[3]

On April 19, 2012, Moore sold the website to an anti-bullying group run by former Marine James McGibney for $12,000.[23] After it was sold all the pornographic material was removed, and the URL was redirected to Bullyville.com.[11]

FBI investigation

Charlotte Laws, the mother of one of the victims on the site, decided to track Moore down and conducted a two-year investigation where she compiled evidence from more than 40 victims and gave it to the FBI.[6]

In 2012, Moore and a hacker named Charles Evens (who went under the alias of "Gary Jones") were suspected of hacking-related crimes.[24] The Wire stated that "on multiple occasions, [Moore] paid Evens to break into the email accounts of victims and steal nude photos to post on the website isanyoneup.com."[7] When it became apparent to Moore that news about his FBI investigation was beginning to surface to the public, Moore responded with "I will literally fucking buy a first-class fucking plane ticket right now, eat an amazing meal, buy a gun in New York, and fucking kill whoever [talked about my FBI investigation]. I'm that pissed over it. I'm actually mad right now."[24]

Moore also threatened to burn down The Village Voice headquarters if they ran a story about his FBI investigation. They ran the story regardless.[24]

Indictment

On January 23, 2014, Moore was indicted in a federal court in California following his arrest by the FBI on charges of conspiracy, unauthorized access to a protected computer, and aggravated identity theft.[25][26] Many of these crimes were committed in an effort to obtain nude images of people against their will.[25]

Moore was released two days later from Sacramento County Jail on a $100,000 bond. He was allowed no access to the Internet, and was required by law to dismantle the archives he owned for the Is Anyone Up? database, while the FBI monitored him doing so.[27]

On January 24, 2015, exactly one year after Moore had last tweeted, tweets began to appear on his account making it seem like he had returned to the Internet. Moore's mother revealed that his account was either taken over or hacked, and he had nothing to do with the tweets.[28]

Guilty plea

On February 18, 2015, Moore entered a guilty plea with the Central District of California U.S. Attorney's Office, in which he admitted to aggravated identity theft and aiding and abetting in the unauthorized access of a computer. In addition to his mandatory prison sentence, Moore also agreed to a three-year period of supervised probation, a $2,000 fine and $145.70 in restitution.[9] He also received an order that he delete all the data on his seized computers.[29] Under the plea, he would serve a minimum of two years in prison, and a maximum of seven years and a $500,000 fine.[30]

On July 2, 2015, accomplice Charles Evens pleaded guilty to charges of computer hacking and identity theft, confessing to stealing hundreds of images from women's email accounts and selling them to Moore. He also faced up to seven years imprisonment.

Conviction and sentencing

On November 16, 2015, Evens was sentenced to 2 years and 1 month imprisonment, as well as a $2,000 fine and $147.50 in restitution.[31]

On December 2, 2015, Moore was sentenced to 21⁄2 years in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release.[32] He was also ordered to undergo a mental health evaluation while imprisoned.[33]

Moore was released from prison on September 22, 2017.[34]

Defamation judgment

On March 8, 2013, Bullyville founder James McGibney won a $350,000 defamation judgment against Moore, after Moore called McGibney a "pedophile" and threatened to rape his wife.[35][36]

Netflix documentary

Moore and his website are the subject of a three-part Netflix documentary, The Most Hated Man on the Internet.[11] The end credits state that Moore initially agreed to feature in the documentary in person, but later declined to do so.

References
  1. Mehrotra, Kriti (July 26, 2022). "Where is Internet's Most Hated Man Hunter Moore Now?". Cinemaholic.com. Retrieved October 18, 2022.
  2. Archana (August 3, 2022). "Who is Hunter Moore? Probably the Most Hated Man on Internet". JanBharat Times. Retrieved October 18, 2022.
  3. Morris, Alex (October 11, 2012). "Hunter Moore: The Most Hated Man on the Internet". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on April 10, 2018. Retrieved November 24, 2013.
  4. Hill, Kashmir (January 24, 2014). "How Revenge Porn King Hunter Moore Was Taken Down". Forbes. Retrieved March 30, 2018.
  5. Helsel, Phil (February 25, 2015). "Revenge Porn Kingpin Hunter Moore Pleads Guilty, Faces Jail". NBC News. Retrieved March 31, 2018.
  6. Cadwalladr, Carole (March 30, 2014). "Charlotte Laws' fight with Hunter Moore, the internet's revenge porn king". The Guardian. Retrieved March 31, 2018.
  7. Simpson, Connor (January 23, 2014). "Revenge Porn King Hunter Moore Arrested for Hacking Email Accounts". The Atlantic WireThe Wire. Archived from the original on April 29, 2014. Retrieved April 28, 2014.
  8. Dodero, Camille (May 16, 2012). ""Gary Jones" Wants Your Nudes". The Village Voice. Retrieved March 31, 2018.
  9. "Operator of 'Revenge Porn' Website Sentenced to 2½ Years in Federal Prison in Email Hacking Scheme to Obtain Nude Photos". www.justice.gov. December 3, 2015. Retrieved April 23, 2022.
  10. Tallerico, Brian (July 27, 2022). "The Most Hated Man on the Internet". RogerEbert.com. Retrieved July 30, 2022.
  11. Jensen, Erin (July 27, 2022). "Who is Hunter Moore? Netflix documentary dives into downfall of 'Most Hated Man on the Internet'". USA Today. Retrieved July 29, 2022.
  12. Han, Angie (July 26, 2022). "'The Most Hated Man on the Internet' Review: Netflix's Hunter Moore Docuseries Is Absorbing but Shallow". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved July 30, 2022.
  13. Prtichard, Tom (July 29, 2022). "The Most Hated Man on the Internet just crashed the Netflix top 10". Tom's Guide. Retrieved July 30, 2022.
  14. Hamilton, Matt (February 25, 2015). "'King of Revenge Porn' pleads guilty, faces up to 7 years in prison". Los Angeles Times.
  15. Morris, Alex (October 11, 2012). "Hunter Moore: The Most Hated Man on the Internet". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on April 10, 2018. Retrieved November 24, 2013.
  16. Greenhouse, Emily (January 28, 2014). "The Downfall of the Most Hated Man on the Internet". The New Yorker. Retrieved July 28, 2022.
  17. Gold, Danny (November 10, 2011). "The Man Who Makes Money Publishing Your Nude Pics". The Awe. Retrieved December 18, 2011.
  18. Dickson, EJ (January 23, 2014). "The history of revenge porn that led to Hunter Moore's arrest". Daily Dot. Retrieved April 28, 2014.
  19. Morris, Alex (November 13, 2012). "Hunter Moore: IsAnyoneUp Founder Could Be the Most Hated Man on the Internet". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on April 10, 2018. Retrieved August 31, 2017.
  20. Laws, Charlotte (November 21, 2013). "I've been called the "Erin Brockovich" of revenge porn, and for the first time ever, here is my entire uncensored story of death threats, Anonymous and the FBI". XoJane. Archived from the original on January 22, 2014. Retrieved November 27, 2013.
  21. Dodero, Camille (April 4, 2012). "Hunter Moore Makes a Living Screwing You". Village Voice. Retrieved October 16, 2012.
  22. Hess, Amanda (December 5, 2012). "Hunter Moore's Biggest Fan". Slate. Retrieved November 24, 2013.
  23. Neil, Martha (January 24, 2014). "'Most hated man on the Internet' is charged with email hacking to get photos for revenge porn site". American Bar Association Journal. Chicago, Illinois: American Bar Association. Retrieved January 28, 2014.
  24. Dodero, Camille (May 16, 2012). "'Gary Jones' Wants Your Nudes". Village Voice. Retrieved April 28, 2014.
  25. Neil, Martha (January 24, 2014). "'Most hated man on the Internet' is charged with email hacking to get photos for revenge porn site". American Bar Association Journal. Chicago, Illinois: American Bar Association. Retrieved January 28, 2014.
  26. "FBI Arrests "The Most Hated Man on the Internet," Revenge-Porn King Hunter Moore". MSN. Associated Press. January 24, 2014. Archived from the original on January 29, 2014. Retrieved January 24, 2014.
  27. McDonald, Ian (January 25, 2014). "King of Revenge Porn' Released to Parents, Now Grounded with No Internet". Fox 40.
  28. "No, Twitter, Revenge Porn Pioneer Hunter Moore Has Not Made A Triumphant Online Return". The Smoking Gun. January 24, 2015.
  29. Hamilton, Matt (February 25, 2015). "'King of Revenge Porn' pleads guilty, faces up to 7 years in prison". Los Angeles Times.
  30. Citron, Danielle (February 18, 2015). "Ding Dong, Revenge Porn King Hunter Moore Is Going To Jail". Forbes.
  31. https://www.washingtontimes.com, The Washington Times. "Charles Evens, 'Revenge Porn' hacker, handed 25-month prison sentence". The Washington Times. Retrieved August 2, 2022. {{cite web}}: External link in |last= (help)
  32. Ohlheiser, Abby (December 3, 2015). "Revenge porn purveyor Hunter Moore is sentenced to prison". The Washington Post.
  33. Sklar, Debbie L. (December 2, 2015). "It's 2.5 years in fed prison for 'Revenge Porn' website king". MyNewsLA.com. Retrieved August 2, 2022.
  34. Kranc, Lauren (July 28, 2022). "Where Is Hunter Moore Now? The Revenge Porn Criminal of 'The Most Hated Man in America' Today". Esquire. Archived from the original on July 28, 2022. Retrieved July 28, 2022.
  35. Dodero, Camille (December 13, 2013). "How Revenge-Porn Publisher Hunter Moore Suffered $250,000 Worth of Payback". Gawker. Archived from the original on March 14, 2013. Retrieved January 24, 2014.
  36. James Gibney (plaintiff), Hunter Moore (defendant), U.S. James Gibney v. Hunter Moore, pp. 1-3 (District Court, Clark County, Nevada 8 March 2013).
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