(SQAUK) — The sunken superyacht belonging to British tech tycoon Mike Lynch has raised international security concerns. The 184-foot luxury vessel, called Bayesian, sank during a violent storm near Sicily in August 2024, resulting in the tragic deaths of seven passengers, including Lynch. Apart from the shipwreck itself, experts have raised concerns that watertight safes aboard the yacht may contain sensitive intelligence data linked to Western security agencies, according to multiple sources.
Lynch, known for founding the cybersecurity firm Darktrace, reportedly kept super-encrypted hard drives with classified information on board. This has made efforts to recover the wreck even more complicated. The safes, designed to withstand extreme conditions, could contain passwords, encryption keys, and sensitive intelligence from various agencies Lynch collaborated with during his career. Lynch’s work in cybersecurity put him in contact with British and U.S. intelligence services. His yacht now lies 50 meters deep off the coast of Sicily, leading to concerns about potential foreign espionage.
Authorities have increased security around the wreckage, including underwater surveillance, due to concerns that foreign governments like Russia or China may try to access the data. Salvage teams are working quickly to protect the contents and prevent any leaks of classified information, adding a geopolitical dimension to the tragic disaster.
