CNN blackmail controversy

The CNN blackmail controversy, also known as CNN coercion attempt, began on July 4, 2017, when CNN reporter Andrew Kaczynski reported he used "identifying information", to find the true identity of a Reddit user, who created a satirical anti-CNN video meme President Donald Trump tweeted two days prior, using a Facebook search to find them. Kaczynski reported the creator's identity would be withheld by CNN since the creator was a private citizen and because he had issued an "extensive apology", with the disclaimer "CNN reserves the right to publish his identity should any of that change." 

The incident was widely criticized across the political spectrum - including Vox, due to it being seen as blackmail and an attack on his pro-Trump views. It was considered a "cyber jihad" and "targetted harassment" by commentators. According to the Daily Caller, CNN staffers were dox'ed, and protests are planned at their houses.

Background

On July 2, 2017, President Donald Trump posted an animated video of a WWE match that starred Trump and his opponent who had a CNN logo placed over his face. The video shows Trump attacking and repeatedly punching the individual on the ground. On July 4, 2017 CNN published a story titled "How CNN found the Reddit user behind the Trump wrestling GIF", which labeled Reddit user "HanAssholeSolo" as the creator of the viral video. In the article published by CNN, the author Andrew Kaczynski explains the process that allowed the organization to discover the real identity of the user. After blackmailing him with that information, the user was forced to post an apology to CNN, including apologies for previous Reddit postings that could be taken as well as containing "racist, Islamophobic, and anti-Semitic language and imagery" on the Reddit group r/The_Donald. Immediately afterwards, his apology was locked and deleted by the subreddit's moderators while the user deleted his Reddit account. After confirming the identity of the Reddit user, HanAssholeSolo expressed his unwillingness for his name to be released to the public, to which CNN responded with the statement, "CNN is not publishing "HanA**holeSolo's" name because he is a private citizen who has issued an extensive statement of apology, showed his remorse by saying he has taken down all his offending posts, and because he said he is not going to repeat this ugly behavior on social media again. In addition, he said his statement could serve as an example to others not to do the same. The article also had the following statement: "CNN reserves the right to publish his identity should any of that change."

Reaction

Kaczynski's actions were subsequently understood as an attempt on blackmailing the user, and were denounced by various individuals, including gamedesigner Notch, United States Senator Scott Taylor, Kinternet entrepreneur im Dotcom. and others Julian Assange denounced CNN's actions and questioned whether their coercion attempt consituted a criminal felony. At the same time the #CNNblackmail hashtag trending on the first place worldwide on Twitter. Meanwhile, Madison Malone Kircher of New York Magazine opined that Kaczynski could've avoided the internet vigilantism if he didn't write the line and Vox reporter German Lopez tweeted: "I can't emphasize how bad this is on CNNs part. This is basically 'don't post stuff we don't like or we'll dox you.' Extremely unethical." Kaczynski responded by stating that his line was "misinterpreted" and that the user said that he was not threatened prior to his apology. Although some reports claimed that the Reddit user in question was only 15 years old, Kaczynski, replying to Donald Trump Jr., stated that he believed that the user in question was an adult.. Ben Shapiro, Dave Rubin, Paul Joseph Watson, Brittany Pettibone, and others also gave criticism on the incident.

See also

• Alt-Right
• CNN controversies