By Jonathan A. Greenblatt
Just a few weeks ago, most Americans were unfamiliar with the concept of Zoom bombing. But as Zoom became the platform of choice for videoconferencing, there was a rapid growth in intrusions by people spouting hate.
In the last few weeks, reports of Zoom bombing have increased exponentially. At the Anti-Defamation League, we have counted at least 80 such interruptions into online meetings across the country, and the number rises daily.
ADL’s Center on Technology and Society reached out to Zoom corporate to encourage the company to make modifications. We’ve been working with them to address these concerns, and these talks are now bearing fruit.
Since we reached out, Zoom has been responsive to the very real threats that have materialized on its service and receptive to our concerns. The company also has listened to our specific feedback on its product design and proposed modifications that would help curtail the abuses. There is more to do, but its latest safety updates are a step in the right direction.
These features will benefit all users, but the ADL is particularly grateful that Zoom upgraded the product in time for Passover and Easter, when many in the Jewish community held virtual seders and Christian families safely enjoyed their holiday via Zoom. With Ramadan starting later this week, Muslim families will be able to partake in virtual Iftar dinners with a greater sense of confidence.
It’s no surprise to us that, in times of crisis, white supremacists and other extremists look for ways to exploit weaknesses in the latest technologies. As they are excluded from mainstream outlets, extremists have always looked for new ways to spread their hate. In recent years they have taken advantage of social media platforms and other technologies to target college campuses with racist emails and faxes, to send robocalls to registered voters, and to create fake anti-Semitic social media profiles.
In the COVID-19 era, most of those targeting videoconferences are not extremists. Rather they are individuals who want to get a reaction from meeting participants by shocking them with lewd images or offensive language.
But some white supremacists have shown that they can interrupt these meetings to post hate speech or pornographic content.
Three weeks ago, anti-Semitic trolls disrupted Yeshiva University’s online classes. In March, a white supremacist interrupted a webinar hosted by a Jewish student group and then pulled down his shirt collar to reveal a swastika tattoo.
There have also been instances of Zoom bombing with homophobic and racist rhetoric. Classes were interrupted at UCLA with anti-black and anti-Semitic rhetoric, and a University of Florida student senate meeting was interrupted with racist messages, swastikas, pornography and death threats. Civil rights organization meetings and government convenings have been blasted with anti-LGBTQ+, racist and anti-Semitic messages.
What can be done?
While the product improvement rolled out by Zoom will help, those hosting public events can take proactive steps to protect themselves.
Hosts of online videoconferences can take advantage of tools to mitigate the risk of interruptions by uninvited outsiders. These include muting all participants of public meetings, locking the meeting when all participants are present or disabling screensharing for non-hosts.
In addition, organizations should have a plan in the event that their meetings fall victim to Zoom bombing in order to preserve information and report the incident. Reporting is critical, as it allows ADL to work with the authorities to illustrate the severity of the problem.
Finally, law enforcement must play an active role in investigating violations while protecting civil rights and liberties.
Beyond pushing for technical fixes, ADL is exploring potential legal avenues to stop the threat and ensure that the perpetrators are held accountable.
For example, it’s likely illegal to hack or receive information that leads to Zoom bombing, particularly if it violates someone’s right to worship. New state laws like Washington state’s cyberhate bill could encompass this threat. And some current laws, like the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act, also could address these violations in certain circumstances.
As we’re all trying to navigate in this new era, we need to take action on multiple levels to ensure that we close the door on haters and shut them out when they attempt to force their way into our communal and sacred spaces. The good news is that Zoom has been responsive. Other tech companies would be well served to learn from its example.
Jonathan A. Greenblatt is CEO and national director of the Anti-Defamation League.
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The ADL under Jonathan A. Greenblatt completely ignores campus anti-semetism which is predominantly from the left. Students For Justice in Palestine (SJP) and other similar groups shout down pro Israel speakers and harass pro Israel students. But the ADL is nowhere to be seen on any of these college campuses.