Council meeting hit by porn hack

COVID-19: IT experts called in as bosses pull plug on summit

Members of the public were barred from an online Covid-19 emergency meeting yesterday after a hacker flooded the screen with pornographic images and messages.

The Angus Council talks had only just begun on the Zoom platform when they descended into chaos.

IT experts tried to exclude some of the participants but were unable to block them and bosses took the decision to pull the plug on the virtual session after about 10 minutes.

It resumed later but the public were not allowed to observe. An Angus Council spokesman said: “It was unfortunate that the unacceptable behaviour by an individual meant that other members of the public had to be excluded.”

The public were locked out of an online Covid-19 emergency meeting after a hacker bombarded it with indecent material.

Early this month, Angus Council became one of the first in Scotland to establish virtual meetings to deal with council business during the pandemic, but had to pull the plug within minutes of the start of its second special arrangements committee yesterday.

Indecent images appeared on the Zoom screen platform, along with disgusting messages left by the unwelcome guest or guests.

Several different profiles appeared but it is understood the possibility they were all connected to a single source is being considered.

Council leader David Fairweather branded the behaviour as “shocking”, telling the meeting it “defies belief”.

The agenda included updates on the council’s coronavirus response to date, as well as “normal” council business relating to areas including housing and Arbroath’s multi-million-pound Sustrans active travel scheme.

The afternoon meeting was being watched by a number of members of the Angus public when the council’s legal chief, Jackie Buchanan, alerted Mr Fairweather to the inappropriate material.

Foul messages appeared included one believed to be directed towards Angus Provost Ronnie Proctor.

IT officers attempted to exclude some of the participants from the Zoom meeting as it continued, but the decision was taken to close it down within around 10 minutes.

It resumed soon afterwards but with members of the public excluded.

A council spokesman said: “While we were pleased to be able to include Audit Scotland and The Courier at the meeting’s resumption, it was unfortunate that the unacceptable behaviour by an individual meant that other members of the public had to be excluded to allow the online meeting to continue as scheduled.

“Such behaviour is unacceptable and we are looking at ways to eliminate this type of disruption from future meetings in a way that ensures those who are genuinely interested in local democracy can still participate.”

“Such behaviour is unacceptable and we are looking at ways to eliminate this type of disruption from future meetings...

ANGUS COUNCIL SPOKESMAN

Angus Council’s online Covid-19 meeting on Zoom was invaded by an unwelcome visitor.