Tal Hanan

Key Points

• Election Manipulation Allegations: Tal Hanan, operating under the alias “Jorge,” is accused of leading “Team Jorge,” a group implicated in manipulating over 30 elections globally through hacking, disinformation, and sabotage.

• Disinformation Expertise: Hanan runs Demoman International, an Israeli firm offering strategic intelligence, but is alleged to use Advanced Impact Media Solutions (AIMS) software to manage thousands of fake social media profiles.

• Undercover Exposure: A 2023 investigation by 30 media outlets, including The Guardian, exposed Hanan’s tactics, including hacking Gmail and Telegram accounts and planting false stories in news outlets.

• No Legal Convictions: Hanan denies wrongdoing, and no lawsuits or criminal convictions are confirmed, but his activities raise significant ethical and legal concerns.

• Global Operations: Team Jorge’s services have reportedly been used in Africa, South and Central America, the US, and Europe, targeting political and corporate clients.

Overview

Tal Hanan, born in 1973, is an Israeli businessman and former special forces operative who operates under the alias “Jorge.” He is the founder and CEO of Demoman International, a strategic intelligence firm registered with the Israeli Ministry of Defense, specializing in urban warfare, counterterrorism, and intelligence. Hanan also leads “Team Jorge,” a covert group exposed in 2023 for allegedly manipulating over 30 elections worldwide over two decades. Using a sophisticated software package called Advanced Impact Media Solutions (AIMS), Team Jorge creates and controls thousands of fake social media profiles across platforms like Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, Telegram, Gmail, Instagram, and YouTube to spread disinformation, hack rivals’ accounts, and influence public opinion. Hanan’s services, which include psychological warfare and sabotage, are offered to intelligence agencies, political campaigns, and corporate clients for fees ranging from €6 million to €15 million per election.

Allegations and Concerns

• Election Interference: Team Jorge, led by Hanan, is accused of manipulating 33 presidential-level campaigns, 27 of which were reportedly successful, using hacking, sabotage, and disinformation. Specific cases include the 2015 Nigerian election with Cambridge Analytica and Kenya’s 2022 election, where hacked accounts were allegedly used to influence outcomes.

• Hacking and Blackmail: Hanan’s team allegedly hacks Gmail and Telegram accounts to gather intelligence on rivals and has boasted of tactics like sending sex toys to politicians’ homes to create false impressions of infidelity.

• Disinformation Campaigns: Team Jorge uses AIMS to amplify false stories in legitimate news outlets, exploiting vulnerabilities in media ecosystems. Hanan claimed an 80% credibility threshold makes disinformation effective.

• Bogus Reports: A 2010 financial report on Hezbollah and Iran, sold to Israel for hundreds of thousands of dollars, was reportedly fraudulent, raising concerns about Hanan’s credibility.

• Regulatory Concerns: Israel faces diplomatic pressure over exporting cyber-weapons like those used by Team Jorge, which undermine democracy and human rights.

Customer Feedback

• No Direct Consumer Reviews: As Team Jorge operates covertly, no public customer reviews are available. Feedback is derived from investigative reports and undercover interactions.

• Positive Impressions (Undercover): Hanan is described as a “terrific salesperson” who impresses clients with real-time demonstrations of hacked accounts, such as accessing a Kenyan politician’s Telegram during a 2022 election. A journalist noted, “To boast of email or Telegram hacking capabilities is one thing – but to take clients on a real-time tour of hacked Telegram accounts is another league entirely.”

• Negative Sentiment: Critics, including privacy experts, question Hanan’s claims, suggesting he may exaggerate capabilities for marketing purposes. A German expert stated, “It is unclear to what extent ‘Team Jorge’ simply wanted to present itself well with a lot of marketing talk.” No client testimonials praise or criticize services directly due to their clandestine nature.

Risk Considerations

• Financial Risks: Engaging Team Jorge’s services, costing €6M–€15M per campaign, poses risks due to unverified outcomes and potential for fraudulent deliverables, as seen in the 2010 Hezbollah report. Clients may lose significant funds with no recourse.

• Reputational Risks: Association with Hanan or Team Jorge could severely damage the reputation of political or corporate clients, especially given public exposure of their election meddling.

• Legal Risks: Hacking and disinformation activities may violate laws in multiple jurisdictions, including data protection regulations like GDPR in Europe or cybercrime laws in the US. Clients risk legal exposure for contracting such services.

• Operational Risks: Team Jorge’s reliance on vulnerabilities like the SS7 communications system and fake profiles increases the risk of detection by cybersecurity agencies, potentially disrupting client operations.

• Ethical Risks: Hanan’s tactics, including blackmail and sabotage, undermine democratic processes, posing ethical risks for clients aligned with governance or human rights principles.

Business Relations and Associations

• Demoman International: Hanan is CEO of this Israeli firm, registered with the Ministry of Defense, focusing on strategic intelligence. It serves as the public face for Team Jorge’s operations.

• Team Jorge: Led by Hanan and his brother Zohar Hanan (alias “Nick”), the CEO of Team Jorge. The group operates from Modi’in, Israel, with six global offices.

• Martin Rodil: A Venezuelan former IMF employee and alleged Mossad agent, Rodil is a business partner recommended by Hanan. He is under investigation in Spain for extorting Venezuelan businessmen.

• Cambridge Analytica: Hanan collaborated with the firm in 2015 for a Latin American campaign ($160,000) and pitched services for Kenya’s 2017 election, though the latter was rejected.

• Other Associates: Team Jorge includes “graduates of government agencies,” but specific identities beyond Zohar Hanan are undisclosed.

Legal and Financial Concerns

• No Confirmed Lawsuits: No active lawsuits or bankruptcy records are tied to Hanan or Demoman International as of May 15, 2025.

• Potential Legal Violations: Hacking Gmail and Telegram accounts violates data protection laws (e.g., GDPR, US Computer Fraud and Abuse Act). Election interference may breach international laws, though no convictions are reported.

• Fraudulent Report: The 2010 Hezbollah report sold to Israel was allegedly bogus, indicating financial misconduct, though no legal action followed.

• Payment Practices: Team Jorge accepts payments in cash, cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin, or through intermediaries like NGOs and law firms, raising money laundering concerns.

• Regulatory Scrutiny: Israel’s export of cyber-weapons, including Hanan’s tools, faces diplomatic criticism, but no specific sanctions target him.

Risk Assessment Table

Expert Opinion

Tal Hanan’s operations through Team Jorge represent a sophisticated threat to democratic processes, leveraging advanced hacking and disinformation tools to influence elections and corporate disputes. His AIMS software and tactics like real-time account hacking demonstrate technical prowess, but the ethical and legal implications are severe. The 2023 exposure by The Guardian and others has damaged his covert operations, yet his denial of wrongdoing and lack of legal consequences suggest ongoing risks.

Pros:

• Hanan’s expertise in intelligence
• counterterrorism may appeal to clients seeking strategic advantage.

Cons:

• High financial costs
• legal exposure
• ethical violations outweigh benefits.

Cautionary Advice: Avoid engaging Hanan or Team Jorge due to significant legal and reputational risks. Political and corporate entities should verify service providers through transparent channels and report suspicious activities to authorities like the FBI’s IC3 (ic3.gov) or INTERPOL. Strengthen cybersecurity with two-factor authentication and monitor for fake profiles to mitigate disinformation risks.

Key Citations

Cybercriminal Investigation:https://cybercriminal.com/investigation/tal-hanan