BRECKSVILLE, Ohio — The Brecksville Broadview Heights School District is the latest organization to fall victim to "Zoom bombing."
Zoom-bombing is when an unwanted visitor gains access to a Zoom meeting and disrupts it by clogging the chat window, sharing unwanted content and even spreading hate messages.
On Thursday, the district's board meeting was hacked with images of child pornography.
The meeting, taking place on the video communication software,was hijacked for 15 seconds.The meeting was host to more than 150 guests including both students and parents.
The popularity of Zoom has made it a target of sorts among hackers and internet trolls.
The district has since suspended all use of the platform. Counselors will be available, Friday, for anyone in need after witnessing the " disgusting act."
The following correspondence was sent out to members of the BBH school district following the incident.
"Good evening BBH family. At tonight's virtual Zoom Board meeting, we were hacked by someone who shared explicit child pornography on our screen. The images were online for approximately 15 seconds, in which the 153 attendees of the meeting were exposed. There were students and children who attended this meeting, who witnessed the horrific illegal acts. Police and federal law enforcement officers were contacted immediately, and a full investigation is being launched into the heinous act. Counselors will be available at the schools tomorrow, should any student who witnessed this horrific act need support. In the immediate future, we are suspending all use of Zoom as a platform to deliver instruction. We will quickly research other safer platforms, and be in contact in the very near future as to other ways instruction will be delivered. In the meantime, if you have any information as to who may be behind such a disgusting act, please contact the Brecksville or Broadview Heights Police. Again, we are sorry for such a sad ending to a respectful meeting, and hope that you and your families stay safe and healthy. Thank you."