Can you face criminal charges for “Zoombombing”?
As teleworking has become commonplace during the COVID-19 pandemic, people have turned to platforms like Skype and Zoom for online meetings and hangouts. While they’re convenient, these platforms can be hacked like any other website, and a new term has been coined to describe the occurrence: “Zoombombing.”
What is “Zoombombing”?
“Zoombombing” is when someone hacks into a videoconference call for the purpose of distracting meeting attendees, potentially with what’s considered inappropriate or offensive audio and imagery. The FBI has received numerous reports of hackers displaying inappropriate images and using threatening language or hateful speech during videoconference calls.
In order for a group of people to start a videoconference call, they need an invitation, meeting link or code to join their coworkers or friends. The New York Times found that groups on social media platforms like Instagram and Reddit were created to share meeting access codes with plans to hijack different group meetings.
Meeting organizers can swiftly remove participants from a meeting, but sometimes those hacking a call for the sole purpose of disruption can be hard to identify. Several alleged hackers may join a meeting under one username and frequently change their alias as they hop from one meeting to the next.
Hate speech and offensive images
The Times report found several instances of what could be considered offensive activity by hackers using productivity tools available on Zoom: switching digital backgrounds, using on-screen writing tools, and audio and video capabilities.
Some examples the Times found centered around groups that are often targeted for harassment. An Alcoholics Anonymous group was Zoombombed when a hacker changed the meeting’s background to a GIF image of a person drinking. A meeting organized for Muslim religious leaders was targeted by a hacker who used an on-screen writing tool to write a racial slur across the group’s slideshow presentation.
During an American Jewish Committee meeting, a hacker used the annotation feature to write antisemitic messages on the screen. A doctoral candidate giving his dissertation defense via Zoom was hacked with pornographic images and racial slurs.
The problem has become widespread enough for the FBI to issue a warning to Zoom users to be on the lookout for malicious activity. They recommend users keep meetings and waiting rooms private, control guest admittance, and only allow meeting hosts to control screensharing options, among other precautions.
What are the legal consequences of “Zoombombing”?
Zoombombing is a few months old, but several jurisdictions are already considering the act a crime. A Connecticut teen was arrested and charged with breach of peace and committing and conspiracy to commit computer crimes after he intentionally joined some of his high school’s online classes and disrupted them with “obscene language and gestures.”
Law enforcement officials at every level in Michigan are also pursuing charges for those who engage in Zoombombing. They include: disrupting a public meeting, computer intrusion, using a computer to commit a crime, hate crimes, fraud, or transmitting threatening communications. All of these are punishable by fines and imprisonment, according to a statement from the U.S. Attorney for Eastern Michigan.
Federal and state authorities are taking Zoombombing seriously and actively investigating reports of hacking. Their aim is to prosecute individuals who engage in Zoombombing.
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