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.”
.@CNN used a photo from a website that replicates the terminal hacking from Fallout. Neat trick! #FakeNews#russianhackingpic.twitter.com/xh9StOOhF9
— McFeels (@jazzhandmcfeels) January 3, 2017
@LawlessPirate 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.”
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.
Photo 1 - Screenshot from CNN Russian hacking report
— Asa J 🇺🇸 (@asamjulian) January 3, 2017
Photo 2 - Screenshot from video game Fallout 4
So hilarious 😂😂😂 pic.twitter.com/68DINxk3z4
@State0fPlay@Cernovich Russian hacker of DNC arrested. pic.twitter.com/g6OVLxL98K
— Vince 🍾2017🎆 (@vincelauro) January 3, 2017
Poofylicious took a screen grab of the CNN story and the news soon spread on Reddit and other social media platforms.
You couldn't script a show about CNN's incompetence...they are too stupid for believable fiction. https://t.co/llmPy5t0TM
— Mike Cernovich 🇺🇸 (@Cernovich) January 3, 2017
@CNN if by "digital fingerprints" you mean screenshots from Fallout 4, then yes, you are correct. #fakenews
— Brian Sho'nuff (@NYJetsFan74) January 3, 2017
@jazzhandmcfeels The green monochrome is kind of a give away. That went away with the 1980s.
— Hermann Purring (@Hermann_Purring) January 3, 2017
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.’
@State0fPlay@Cernovich At this point CNN is faker than @WWE. Are they even trying at this point? pic.twitter.com/WVE0PSdFdl
— Trollocrates (@TheTrumpenreich) January 3, 2017
@State0fPlay@Cernovich@YahooNews WHEN are they going to stop???? Can they learn nothing!! Americans HATE lies!!! 🇺🇸🙏#Trump
— MaryEllenDwyer (@DwyerEllen) January 3, 2017
CNN is using a video game screenshot to show how Russia is hacking us! 😂😂😂#FallOut4#CNNisCancerhttps://t.co/N8rIQZ1XrR
— Democrats for Trump (@YoungDems4Trump) January 3, 2017
@FacMagnaAmerica@CNN#msnbc Staging #fakenews is their specialty! Propaganda mills like this have no shame or honesty & knows no bounds!
— Patriot Patrol (@BMantagas) January 3, 2017
.@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 Trump (@phat_hobbit) January 3, 2017
@State0fPlay@Cernovich@YahooNews
— Liziz Fine (@LizizFine) January 3, 2017
CNN is the epitome of lying, manipulative FAKE NEWS. Only cretins Watch it & sub- cretins Believe it.
CNN uses screenshot from 'Fall Out 4' for tweet about Russian hack claims. You just can't make this stuff up. https://t.co/ooSX0dpUmv
— Matt Dougan (@Americooligan) January 3, 2017
@State0fPlay@Cernovich@YahooNews Shows how little credit they give their viewers
— Trump Trump Trump (@Geoclewis) January 3, 2017
@FacMagnaAmericapic.twitter.com/pPnCMggI51
— Deplorable Deangelo (@LiberalRipper) January 3, 2017
Even Bethesda Game Studios, creators of the Fallout games got in on the joke.
Sneak Peek at Season 3 of @whoismrrobotpic.twitter.com/S7VMj9Xx5E
— BethesdaGameStudios (@BethesdaStudios) January 2, 2017
@BethesdaStudios@whoismrrobot Proof Bethesda are Russian hackers.
— Shortwave (@Shortwave13) January 2, 2017
@KASE_WINDU 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.
@timogeo This whole "Russia" thing reeks of the warmongering propaganda leading up to Iraq. @LawlessPirate@CNN@Fallout@guardian
— Mark Trueblood (@MarkTrueblood) January 3, 2017
CNN knows so much about Russian hacking and is so credible, and that's why they used Fallout 4 footage while talking about Russian hacking 😂
— lucas brown (@lucas_michael64) January 3, 2017
@FacMagnaAmerica@Samuil_Shpeller Hello, I'm Russian hacker. I hack ur country from my couch! Obey me Mr. @POTUSpic.twitter.com/c6ZfYfnK8N
— Захар (@z666ea) January 3, 2017
@FacMagnaAmerica@WhosFibbing The mystery of the US election hacking has been solved! 👻 pic.twitter.com/ePQjGCX2sN
— 1788 ♔ Taswegian (@taswegian001) January 3, 2017
@LawlessPirate Next thing you know they'll find a "Russian Drone" that looks just like ED-E.
— Reuental_800 (@MAurelius161180) January 2, 2017
@LawlessPirate@allstars4USA msnbc just released a photograph of the Russian hackers pic.twitter.com/UDN0qsxma1
— Treson Saint (@treson003) January 3, 2017
