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How Jeffrey Epstein used SEO to bury news about his crimes

Documents released by the House Oversight Committee shed light on Epstein’s day-to-day, largely via email — including his preoccupation with his Google presence.

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258116_Jeffrey_Epstein_used_SEO_to_bury_news_about_his_crimes_CVirginia_CVirginia
Image: Cath Virginia / The Verge, Getty Images
Mia Sato
is features writer with five years of experience covering the companies that shape technology and the people who use their tools.

On December 11th, 2010, Jeffrey Epstein was fretting about what came up if you Googled him. By this time Epstein had already pleaded guilty to soliciting prostitution with a child and was a registered sex offender, and just a few days earlier he had been photographed in Central Park taking a stroll with Prince Andrew.

Epstein emailed an associate to complain. “the google page is not good,” Epstein wrote, according to documents released last week by the House Oversight Committee. He also took issue with tens of thousands of dollars of payments, which appear to have been made to “clean up” results. “I have yet to have a complete breakdown of payments. and the results , are what they are.”

Someone named Al Seckel — perhaps Epstein accomplice Ghislaine Maxwell’s sister’s late partner — responded later that evening, sharing what he was seeing. The results included Epstein’s Wikipedia page, a New York magazine article, a “jeffreyepsteinscience.com” website, a hair transplant surgeon with the same name, and a story correctly naming him as a sex offender.

“This is BEFORE the next big sweep. I UNDERSTAND your point about ‘one thing kills me,’ but the daily beast article is gone, the other ones, including the powerful Huffington Post, are about to be pushed off. And, out stuff is on top.”

Epstein and others discuss how to use technical SEO tactics to bump news articles from Google’s first page of results

Within the documents released last week, we see Epstein and his circle strategize how to bury unflattering coverage of him on Google and elevate what they want — search engine optimization to try to whitewash the reputation of a rich pedophile with powerful friends.

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Achieve your new year’s goals with one of these laptops

Equipped with Snapdragon X processors, these six fast, AI-powered machines are built for the ambitious.

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Photo-Illustration by Marissa Dickson
Photo-Illustration by Marissa Dickson

For some, a new year isn’t just a flip of the calendar. It’s a clean slate, a chance to take stock of the good and the bad of the prior 12 months and land on new goals for the next dozen. Whether you’re big on resolutions or not, the right laptop can help you level up your productivity and become a creative force in 2026.

With powerful processing, AI-enabled performance, and multi-day battery life,* laptops powered by Snapdragon X Series processors give any professional or creator the tools needed to be at your best in the new year. We’ve rounded up some of the top choices for those looking to make 2026 your most goal-busting year yet.

$750

For more storage in 2026 (or beyond). If you regularly shovel loads of raw video, images, or other large files onto your laptop, storage is a precious commodity, and getting more of it can be an expensive hassle. But the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3x solves for this inconvenience with a ready-to-expand SSD slot, so you can easily upgrade storage — no service center required. Pair that capability with the Snapdragon X processor located within this Copilot+ PC, and you have an intelligent, durable, multi-tasking machine built for your needs now and ready to grow with you into the future.

$550

For launching that side hustle. Nothing kills productivity like a dead battery. And let’s face it: Some of us are better at remembering to charge than others. With up to 34 hours of battery life and the ability to restore to 50 percent in just 30 minutes, the HP Omnibook 5 makes it about as easy as it could possibly be to maintain a workable level of charge — so there are no more excuses standing between you and that side project. Meanwhile, with a Snapdragon X Plus processor inside, it delivers blazing-fast responsiveness and intelligent features, including the HP AI Companion for smarter workflows. Among the additional touches are a 16-inch, 2K OLED display, immersive HP Audio Boost, and a 1080p IR camera, so you’ll be at your best work self wherever you happen to set up a desk.

$700

For optimizing your daily routine. A new year is a chance to dial in that day-to-day and spend your time where it matters most, and there’s no reason your laptop can’t assist. With AI tools at every turn, the ASUS Vivobook 14 is ready to turn your daily routine into a finely tuned, highly efficient machine. ASUS AI applications help you get more done, from organizing your multimedia library with AI-powered categorization to safeguarding your privacy with AI assistance. Even things like audio get a crystal-clear upgrade via AI-powered noise cancellation. The Vivobook 14 runs on a Snapdragon X processor with 29 hours of battery life and the ability to charge 50 percent in just half an hour, so you’ll get impressive performance in a portable package.

$800

For creating your next masterpiece. Ready to sprawl out on the couch and finally launch that Substack or type your next novel from the comfort of bed? The Acer Aspire 14 has you covered, with a 180-degree hinge, touchscreen laptop that delivers lie-flat capability for whatever angle gets your creative juices flowing. It’s not all form, though; there’s function here, too. The Aspire 14 comes equipped with a 1440p QHD camera and Acer AI features that simplify your life — like setting management, video optimization, and communication. The Snapdragon X processor at this machine’s core delivers the high performance you need, wherever you go.

$1100

For finally committing to upgrading your security. With the Microsoft Surface, you can keep up with creativity and productivity without compromising privacy in the new year. The Microsoft chip-to-cloud security gives ultimate control and peace of mind as you work on a Copilot+ PC that delivers all-day battery life and advanced AI experiences, like Windows Studio Effects and Live Captions. It’s all packaged in a 13-inch touchscreen display with anti-reflective technology and adaptive color for stunning visuals and lighting. Under the hood is the Snapdragon X Plus processor, delivering fast and smooth performance.

$600

For creating on the go. Perhaps you’re looking to build a cohesive workspace you can take on the road — whether you’re a world traveler, aspiring influencer, or mobile content creator. The Samsung Galaxy Book 4 Edge 15 provides Galaxy ecosystem integration that powers the ultimate portable workflow, enabling you to use your phone as a webcam, for instance, or your tablet as a second screen. Built on the Snapdragon X Plus processor, it’s a Copilot+ PC with Galaxy AI features like Circle to Search, Live Captions, and Cocreator. Super Fast Charging capabilities power a battery capable of 28 hours of video playback, while an ultra-slim and lightweight design ensures supreme mobility.

*As compared to other premium tier Apple, AMD and Intel processors for AI PCs. Battery life varies significantly with device, settings, usage, and other factors. Power, thermal, performance and battery life comparisons reflect results based on measurements and hardware instrumentation of given devices. Please visit snapdragon.com/claims for additional information.​

Snapdragon branded products are products of Qualcomm Technologies, Inc. and/or its subsidiaries.

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