Act 1: An employee of Smartmatic, a technology company, makes a threat in the comments section of Daniel’s blog, leaving their IP address (200.109.11.253).
Act 2: Using a pseudonym (cmostaza), the same employee makes another comment from the same IP address.
Act 3: Alek recalls cmostaza’s comments on Twitter and searches Google for “/coronel mostaza/” “/smartmatic/”.
Act 4: Alek clicks on the Google link and discovers that cmostaza is Luis Acuña.
Act 5: Alek searches Google for “/luis acuña/” “/smartmatic/” and finds, among other interesting data, this (source) identifying Luis Acuña as the Marketing and Communication Coordinator for Smartmatic:
These are the “efficient” people organizing elections worldwide and are supposed to keep biometric information secure. Terrifying. Mexican readers take note: the threats from this “Dutch company” come from Caracas.
UPDATE: Luis Acuña, Marketing and Communications Coordinator for Smartmatic, has written to clarify his position. His comment follows:
Good afternoon Mr. Boyd. It’s true, I am Cmostaza, however, I have not threatened you in any way, that is the pseudonym I use online, it isn’t that hard to track me as you have obviously proven. Whatever I did, I did personally without representing the company, just today before leaving the comment on Daniel’s blog I spoke directly with you on Twitter, using my real name, I have nothig to hide. I admit to having written comments on Twitter and the blog. However, I had nothing to do with the email you received earlier.
I assure you that, even with our differences, I do not approve of violence in any way. I have my views about you, but I would never stoop so low as to threaten someone. I regret having fueled any fear you may have, and I deeply regret that you think that either Smartmatic or I would support such a repulsive action. All I asked was where the threat was that I did not see (and still do not see).
My response: Mr. Acuña, thank you for coming and proving my point so quickly. In fact, you have threatened me by saying: “I wonder if you can keep doing that and still get away with it.” What exactly do you mean by “still get away with it”?
Is this how Smartmatic, which you claim is comprised of “honest, hardworking, and talented professionals,” handles perfectly valid and substantiated criticisms? Will Smartmatic reprimand you for this action?
Since you are the Marketing and Communications Coordinator for Smartmatic, could you tell us:
In which European countries has Smartmatic been contracted, as Mr. Cook recently mentioned in Mexico? Where is the evidence that Smartmatic repurchased shares from the Venezuelan government that were acquired through the representative Omar Montilla? Why did Smartmatic drop Sequoia and escape the CFIUS probe? How does the Smartmatic software continue to be used in the U.S. through Sequoia? How much does Smartmatic receive from Sequoia for the use of its technology? What kind of professional relationships does Jack Blaine have with Smartmatic? Did Smartmatic apply for work permits for Venezuelans who flew in to monitor the elections in Chicago in 2006? Why did the Smartmatic/Sequoia machines not function properly in Chicago? Could you please provide us evidence of independent audits that have been conducted on Smartmatic’s voting equipment and biometric technology? Why haven’t Venezuelans been informed of the final results of the 2007 constitutional referendum? Can Smartmatic provide evidence of winning contracts in open, transparent, and fair public tenders in Venezuela? Since 2003, how much money has been taken from the Chávez regime by the honest people running Smartmatic? How much has been paid in taxes to SENIAT? Where is the rest of the money hidden? Why did the “dignified, just, and capable” Antonio Mugica threaten former employees? How did Smartmatic obtain the contract in the Philippines? Why did Smartmatic access the servers remotely during a regional election in Mindanao, Philippines? Do Smartmatic machines maintain bidirectional communication with polling stations during voting in the Philippines, as they do in Venezuela? Where does Smartmatic pay its taxes? Is Smartmatic prepared to show its latest returns? What will happen with the investigation into Alfredo Anzola’s death? Why did Jorge Rodríguez, then head of the Venezuelan Electoral Council, go to Italy to close the deal with Olivetti on behalf of Smartmatic? Who pocketed the +$20 million overcharge? Why did Smartmatic take the vacation slip of Jorge Rodríguez? Why does Smartmatic have such a complicated ownership structure? Is Smartmatic ready to publish a full disclosure of its activities, employees, and financial operations? How was Smartmatic illegally subcontracted by NEC Argentina in Bolivia, for the provision of biometric technology, considering that its bid was rejected by the Bolivian electoral authorities? How did the electoral roll in Bolivia increase in numbers once Smartmatic got involved? What was the issue between TIM and Smartmatic in the Philippines? How did Smartmatic manage to enter a public tender for the provision of biometric technology in Mexico, when it has no background in providing such services anywhere in the world? Why did Smartmatic use the contact details of a collaborator of Fernando Gómez Mont to register its bid? Did Smartmatic pay bribes in Mexico? If so, how much and to whom? What is Smartmatic’s position on similar allegations made in the Philippines? And in Bolivia? Who controls the CNE tally room in Venezuela? Is it true, as General Raúl Baduel told me, that monitors have been placed in a Venezuelan military facility (CUFAN), so the military can follow in real time how the elections are going and act accordingly to Chávez’s orders? Does Antonio Mugica have any relationship with the Venezuelan ambassador to the U.S., Bernardo Alvarez Herrera? Was the late Alfredo Anzola related to Mr. Álvarez Herrera? Why did the documents constituting SBC disappear from the notary office of José Vicente Rangel’s daughter’s office in Cubo Negro, after Richard Brand’s article was published in the Miami Herald? What happened to the investigation into tax evasion that U.S. authorities were conducting on Smartmatic? What about the FBI? Has Smartmatic developed any expansion plans to ALBA countries? When will Smartmatic begin operations in Cuba? Finally, you say you do not approve of violence in any way. So, how is it that you work for a company that riggs elections for a militaristic coupster? Where were you when you made those comments and threats, at home or at work? Did you do it following instructions from above? If so, who told you to slander/threaten me? Why did you hide behind different pseudonyms? Is that your idea of honesty and transparency?
I assume you are well-positioned, sufficiently informed, since you have known Smartmatic since 2001, and eager to answer this set of questions, which will help alleviate some of the apprehensions that many people and authorities have toward Smartmatic worldwide. I advise caution in responding, while I insist on one maxim: “shooting the messenger never works.”