News Summary

Rippling and Deel, two prominent HR tech companies, are embroiled in a legal battle over allegations of espionage. Keith O’Brien, a confessed spy for Deel, has become a key figure in the feud, serving as Rippling’s star witness in their lawsuit against Deel. O’Brien claims he was paid to steal Rippling’s internal data, leading to his capture through a honeypot Slack channel. The legal saga has taken a personal toll on O’Brien, who testified about being followed by unidentified men, causing him and his family anxiety and fear. Deel has countersued Rippling, alleging espionage by a Rippling employee. The situation highlights the intense rivalry between the two companies, once partners, now competitors in the HR tech space.