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John McAfee believed to have been detained, campaign manager says

Data secreted across the world will be released if McAfee stays missing, his Twitter account says.

Corinne Reichert Senior Editor
Corinne Reichert (she/her) grew up in Sydney, Australia and moved to California in 2019. She holds degrees in law and communications, and currently writes news, analysis and features for CNET across the topics of electric vehicles, broadband networks, mobile devices, big tech, artificial intelligence, home technology and entertainment. In her spare time, she watches soccer games and F1 races, and goes to Disneyland as often as possible.
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Corinne Reichert
2 min read
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John McAfee has apparently gone missing.

Screenshot by Sean Hollister/CNET

John McAfee has apparently gone missing and is believed to have been detained by authorities, according to a series of tweets Tuesday from the Twitter account of the 2020 presidential candidate and maker of an "unhackable" cryptocurrency wallet. Operating McAfee's Twitter account, his campaign manager Rob Benedicto Pacifico Juan Maria Loggia-Ramirez said data hidden across the world by McAfee will be revealed if he remains detained.

The antivirus software pioneer has been on the run since 2012 after his alleged involvement in a murder in Belize, which he denies. McAfee last week tweeted his only "crime is not filing tax returns." He claims the rest of the charges against him is "propaganda by the US government to silence me."

"I have good reason to suspect that John McAfee, @theemrsmcafee and other companions have been detained by authorities at their latest port of call," Loggia-Ramirez tweeted on McAfee's account Tuesday.

"If John misses his next check-in, events will be set into motion that I cannot prevent once they have begun. John has secreted data with individuals across the world. I know neither their identities or locations. They will release their payloads if John goes missing."

Loggia-Ramirez told CNET he has no more information about the detainment, but that he and others are "employing every possible resource to locate him and secure his release."

"The bastards wouldn't even give him a cigarette," Loggia-Ramirez tweeted.

The Twitter thread didn't say when McAfee's next check-in was scheduled.

On July 19, McAfee had tweeted that the CIA "attempted to collect us." "We are at sea now and will report more soon. I will continue to be dark for the next few days," he tweeted with a picture of himself and his wife holding guns.

On July 22, McAfee then tweeted about being at sea in rough weather for four and a half days. "Nearing port. All is well. Will be back in the saddle shortly," he said.

Loggia-Ramirez told CNET later Tuesday that he could not share the plans or timeline for the release of the secreted data across the world.

"I can say that our response has been pre-coordinated in the event something like this happened, and it that has many moving pieces involving people unaware of each other," he said in a private Twitter message. "John is not stupid."

Loggia-Ramirez sent three additional tweets from McAfee's account later on Tuesday, thanking people for their support and emphasizing that this is not a stunt.

"There are also some people that doubt the veracity of today's report. That is fair enough and can be forgiven. But you will find you are mistaken - this is not a publicity stunt," he tweeted. 

Originally published July 23, 12:59 p.m. PT.
Update, 4:16 p.m. PT: Adds further statement. Update, July 24: Adds additional tweets.