Michael Macartney, 50, confessed to the BBC his role in an extreme monkey torture network.

A ringleader in a global monkey torture network exposed by the BBC has been charged by US federal prosecutors.

Michael Macartney, 50, who went by the alias “Torture King”, was charged in Virginia with conspiracy to create and distribute animal-crushing videos.

Mr Macartney was one of three key distributors identified by the BBC Eye team during a year-long investigation into sadistic monkey torture groups.

Two women have also been charged in the UK following the investigation.

Warning: This article contains disturbing content

Mr Macartney, a former motorcycle gang member who previously spent time in prison, ran several chat groups for monkey torture enthusiasts from around the world on the encrypted messaging app Telegram.

  • @MilitantVegan
    -6•10 months ago

    I have a Samsung device, so it’s likely from Vietnam. Other than that I, like most Linux users, live on a steady computer diet of used Thinkpads.

    Now that Fairphone is available in the US I will likely go for those in the future. Or maybe a Linux phone if one gets good enough. Is there evidence of unethical work practices in Samsung’s supply chain?

      • @Mirshe
        2•10 months ago

        There’s also the fact that Samsung is effectively a large chunk of the SK government. Just like how the Yakuza used to have a lot of power over elections in Japan, the government in South Korea has been effectively captured entirely by corporations in the country. Nothing happens without their say-so.

        • @MilitantVegan
          2•10 months ago

          Thank you for informing me about these things. Normally when I buy a phone I base my decision mainly on which ones are supported by degoogled variants of Android. In the future I will stick more to used devices, and less harmful brands like Fairphone.