Penn State police, FBI investigate ‘Zoom bombing’ cases involving child pornography
Penn State police and the FBI are investigating at least six “Zoom bombing” incidents where child pornography was displayed during university meetings, classes and events, the department said Wednesday in a news release.
Those who witnessed child sexual abuse broadcast during a Penn State-affliated Zoom session are urged to contact campus police or report it online. Those with information about who may have distributed or produced child pornography are urged to call 800-225-5324 or report it online.
Zoom bombing — a cyber attack where an unwanted guest joins a video call with an intention to disrupt or harass others — has become more prominent as institutions have turned to the teleconferencing software to stay connected during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The FBI has received more than 240 reports since mid-March of child pornography being displayed during a Zoom meeting, university police said.
At least 26 general Zoom bombing incidents were reported in April at University Park, with at least six others reported at branch campuses.
The Centre County district attorney’s office plans to “aggressively prosecute” Zoom bombers, county District Attorney Bernie Cantorna said in April.
“These times are challenging enough with the restrictions we have to work under, without having to deal with someone disrupting a 400-person classroom or a community meeting,” Cantorna said. “We are all in this together and we don’t need this kind of conduct. It is not funny, it is criminal.”
Disruptions during Zoom meetings may be minimized by adding a password, scheduling meetings, implementing a waiting room, allowing only authenticated users to join and locking the meeting.