Ben Makuch

National Security Correspondent, VICE | World Press Freedom Award Winner

From interviewing ISIS members to being on the ground during a political assassination in Russia, Ben brings unprecedented access to many of the world’s most dangerous regions. Previously with the Canadian Press’s Parliamentary Bureau, Makuch was in contact with several terror suspects who travelled to Iraq and Syria during the rise of the so-called Islamic State. That reporting caught the attention of federal counterterrorism investigators who are trying to force Makuch to hand over all source materials connected to Farah Mohamed Shirdon, an alleged ISIS fighter from Calgary. Makuch refused and fought the order all the way to the Supreme Court of Canada.

Makuch hosted the hit TV show Cyberwar on Hulu and the VICEtv network, an investigative documentary series examining the covert world of signals intelligence and hackers. He has since worked on the Emmy-award winning show VICE News Tonight on HBO, and Fringe Nation on VICEtv. Currently, Makuch has been covering the rise of domestic terrorism in the U.S. and exposing the inner workings of neo-Nazi terrorist groups.

Cybersecurity

Network breaches and data leaks have become the new corporate and personal threat, how do we combat this new world? Ben shares fascinating stories and provides deep insight for audiences on the threats that exist and how to combat them.

Russian Hackers & Donald Trump

An in-depth understanding of the players involved, Ben has an active investigation into what really happened behind the scenes.

Modern Terrorism

Ben was personally in contact with ISIS militants and embedded himself in their online world where he watched it rise long before the headlines caught on.

Conflict in the 21st Century

With experience covering real and online war, Ben can paint a picture of what is driving modern conflicts around the world.

International Espionage

From Russian hackers, the Central Intelligence Agency to Israeli informants, Ben has dealt with the covert world of international espionage.