CNN Mocked for Using Screengrabs from Fallout 4 in Russian Hacking Story
CNN has been mocked after the news network was caught using screengrabs from the popular post-apocalyptic video game Fallout 4 in a story about “Russian hacking.”
https://twitter.com/jazzhandmcfeels/status/816084034971238400
Makes you wonder how stupid they think we are!
— Tammy (@Twisty58) January 3, 2017
Vigilant Reddit user Poofylicious spotted something familiar about a recent story about President Barack Obama imposing sanctions on Russia over alleged “Russian interference in the 2016 election.”
CNN uses Fallout hacking footage to show how Russians hack. from fo4
The network had used a screengrab of the very popular video game to tell its story. The post-apocalyptic role-playing adventure features a mini game where players “hack” terminals to get access to computer systems and internal correspondence. The video clip has since been updated and no longer shows the awkward moment.
In reality, the hacking game is more like a word puzzle in the jumble of letters on the computer screen. Although it doesn’t portray hacking in reality, CNN deemed the footage ideal to use for a story about Russian hacking.
https://twitter.com/asamjulian/status/816125959866875904
https://twitter.com/vincelauro/status/816136385681768448
Poofylicious took a screen grab of the CNN story and the news soon spread on Reddit and other social media platforms.
https://twitter.com/Cernovich/status/816135033740283904
https://twitter.com/NYJetsFan74/status/816272895957729280
https://twitter.com/Hermann_Purring/status/816095278591778816
While the Fallout image was only used for a few seconds of B-roll during the story, the network has been lambasted for more serious forays into ‘fakenews’. Redditors and social media users were quick to mock the news organization for using the video game footage, with many describing the move as another example of ‘fake news.’
https://twitter.com/TheTrumpenreich/status/816135964544245760
https://twitter.com/DwyerEllen/status/816138830558466048
https://twitter.com/YoungDems4Trump/status/816188348733607937
https://twitter.com/BMantagas/status/816113579820716033
.@find_evil @cnnbrk nice find. It's well know that Fallout Four is the code word for the next series of "Russian" cyber attacks #attribution
— Ian Thornton-Trump CD (@phat_hobbit) January 3, 2017
https://twitter.com/LizizFine/status/816135774827593728
https://twitter.com/Americooligan/status/816168719277850624
https://twitter.com/Geoclewis/status/816138292169240576
https://twitter.com/LiberalRipper/status/816121311680483328
Even Bethesda Game Studios, creators of the Fallout games got in on the joke.
Sneak Peek at Season 3 of @whoismrrobot pic.twitter.com/S7VMj9Xx5E
— Bethesda Game Studios (@BethesdaStudios) January 2, 2017
https://twitter.com/Shortwave13/status/816070644618199040
wait till they discover FO4 players were actually helping Russians and cracking real security through that mini game. pic.twitter.com/VWofHdSyy7
— Pete Hines (@DCDeacon) January 2, 2017
Others used the opportunity to mock the Russian hacking narrative.
https://twitter.com/MarkTrueblood/status/816078727524352000
https://twitter.com/lucas_michael64/status/816377850282418177
@Samuil_Shpeller Hello, I'm Russian hacker. I hack ur country from my couch! Obey me Mr. @POTUS pic.twitter.com/c6ZfYfnK8N
— Захар (@z666ea) January 3, 2017
https://twitter.com/taswegian001/status/816129282946658304
Next thing you know they'll find a "Russian Drone" that looks just like ED-E.
— Oscar Von Reuenthal (@OscarVReuenthal) January 2, 2017
https://twitter.com/treson003/status/816122326890598401
Source: RT