I think I remember this, or a similar scam around the same time. What stood out to me is that one of the big six was hired to certify the legitimacy of the "black box", despite the obvious mathematical impossibility. I'm trying to find the firm ... Hm, according to Google AI it was Ernst and Young (I did a search for Ernst certifies compression technology 1990s). They apparently did two different "audits or demonstrations.
I was working at Andersen Consulting at the time, offshoot of Arthur Andersen. The Arthur Andersen that signed off on Enron (AC had before then become Accenture and separated from the audit partnership).
I chuckled to myself a few years later when the NBA draft lottery was signed off on/audited/witnessed by another Big6 firm. Yeah, give them enough money and they'll "audit" anything within some degree of plausible deniability.
I was working at Andersen Consulting at the time, offshoot of Arthur Andersen. The Arthur Andersen that signed off on Enron (AC had before then become Accenture and separated from the audit partnership).
I chuckled to myself a few years later when the NBA draft lottery was signed off on/audited/witnessed by another Big6 firm. Yeah, give them enough money and they'll "audit" anything within some degree of plausible deniability.