Key Takeaways
- Itay Levy, the co-founder and CEO of a cybersecurity company called Kernelios, has been found guilty of multiple sex crimes involving children, including statutory rape.
- Levy is an IDF veteran and had positioned himself as a major figure in Israel’s cyber ecosystem, recruiting people with military backgrounds into the cyber industry.
- The case highlights the dangers of glorifying "warrior" pipelines and treating men like Levy as prestigious and untouchable, creating an environment where predators feel protected by status.
- The incident reveals the flaws in institutions that reward secrecy, hierarchy, loyalty, and silence, allowing predators to hide and creating the perfect conditions for them to commit crimes.
- The case serves as a test of whether society will protect the vulnerable or protect the powerful, and it is essential to prioritize the protection of children and hold institutions accountable.
Introduction to the Case
The recent conviction of Itay Levy, the co-founder and CEO of a cybersecurity company called Kernelios, has sent shockwaves through the global community. Levy, an IDF veteran, had built a reputation as a major figure in Israel’s cyber ecosystem, recruiting people with military backgrounds into the cyber industry. However, his professional biography and public persona as a "warrior" and "combatant" have been exposed as a mask for his true nature: a predator who has been found guilty of multiple sex crimes involving children, including statutory rape.
The Crimes and the Investigation
According to reports, Levy was found guilty after confessing and pleading guilty to four counts of statutory rape of a minor under 16, along with indecent acts involving minors and violation of privacy. Prosecutors described an extended pattern of photographing and recording children without their knowledge while they were undressed, storing that material on his phone, using it for gratification, and deleting it. The investigation also found evidence that Levy allegedly snuck into victims’ rooms at night while they slept and abused multiple children between the ages of 4 and 12. The details of the case are horrific and revealing, highlighting the need for greater accountability and protection of children from predators like Levy.
The Culture of Silence and Protection
The case highlights the dangers of glorifying "warrior" pipelines and treating men like Levy as prestigious and untouchable. This culture of silence and protection creates an environment where predators feel protected by status, and institutions that worship power tend to protect it. The way these systems reward secrecy, hierarchy, loyalty, and silence can create the perfect conditions for predators to hide, and people fear the institution more than they fear the harm. It is essential to recognize that prestige does not purify people and that it often does the opposite, making them bolder and more likely to commit crimes.
The Importance of Accountability and Protection
The case serves as a test of whether society will protect the vulnerable or protect the powerful. It is crucial to prioritize the protection of children and hold institutions accountable for their actions. The victims of Levy’s crimes deserve support and protection, and it is essential to ensure that no one uses the "rules" about privacy to bury the broader truth. Protecting victims’ identities is right, but hiding institutional rot is not. Children do not have lobbyists, PR firms, or teams of lawyers on retainer; they have fragile voices and developing bodies and need adults to defend them.
Conclusion and Call to Action
The case of Itay Levy is a moral demand for society to re-examine its values and priorities. If a society has endless money for surveillance, endless budgets for "security," and endless tools to monitor and control but can’t protect children from predators sitting in plain sight with prestigious résumés, then that society is lying about what it values. It is essential to support independent journalism and organizations that prioritize the protection of children and the vulnerable. By becoming a member of The North Star, you can help support the truth-telling and accountability that is necessary to create a safer and more just society for all.
