DSM police investigate after cyber attack on city's meeting shows racist, explicit messages
The Des Moines Police Department is investigating a Zoom bomb as a cyber crime after interruptions during a virtual city meeting.
The Des Moines City Council and the Des Moines Civil and Human Rights Commission had to end Thursday night's meeting due to a cyber attack.
A spokesperson for the City's office said there were "disruptive racist, sexist and pornographic messages" directed toward members of the Des Moines Civil and Human Rights Commission.
The target appears to be Des Moines Civil and Human Rights Commission chairman Kameron Middlebrooks along with other commission members. The first image to show up on screens was a sexually explicit picture.
A short time later, someone drew swastikas on the PowerPoint screen and then more sexually suggestive requests.
“What occurred proves hate and ignorance is alive and well. But I stand steadfast in my resolve to continue to be an agent of change,” Middlebrooks said. “Our commission has started the path to bridging the gaps we face in our community and will continue to work cooperatively with Council and Des Moines residents to ensure we drive this hate into the darkness and uplift neighbors with love and equitable policies.”
City officials said they would be rescheduling the joint meeting. Mayor Frank Cownie said the city will be looking into ways to improve the security of all public meetings.
“This was a disgusting and sickening display of racial intolerance that we as Des Moines residents and Iowans can never tolerate, never ignore,” said Mayor Frank Cownie. “Those who disrupted with their vile comments have only succeeded in strengthening our objective – this will not impede the steps we’ve made or slow the work that remains in Bridging the Gap in our community.”
Computer experts said virtual meetings come with their own set of new difficulties.
"There is a facility in Zoom to allow people to raise their hand so the moderator can see that then allow them to speak versus just having it be a wide open thing that anybody in the world can go and post whatever they want," said Dave Weis, with Pro Network Solutions.