#DCBlackout rumor on communications blackout in Washington debunked after loud explosion fuels misinformation
Misinformation is spreading like wildfire amid riots in Washington D.C. Twitter users blamed the platform of covering up a bombing after the screenshot from a TV series went viral online, sparking the hashtag #DCBlackout to trend.
Riots shuddered Washington DC for a third consecutive night on Sunday, with mobs of protesters descending on the White House and the historic St John’s Church, which was set ablaze by arsonists. Some Twitter users reported they heard a loud explosion amid the popping of police weapons and the crackling of fireworks, just moments before their internet and phone services were purportedly cut off.
This resulted in hysteria online, with several reports claiming a massive police crackdown and social media users assuming that authorities were taking into custody anyone violating Mayor Muriel Bowser’s 11 pm curfew. But in fact, the entire DC National Guard had to be mobilized after fires were lit in front of the Washington Monument.
The concern of social media users stemmed from one picture circulating online that appeared to show flames emanating from the bombed wreckage of the US Capitol. However, it soon emerged that the picture was, in fact, a screenshot from the Netflix series 'Designated Survivor.'
Several reports on social media subsequently claimed that the Trump administration had plunged Washington D.C. into a media blackout by jamming signals and networks.
The Hashtag #DCBlackout began trending on Twitter and people claimed there were no signals or reports from D.C. Some claimed their calls to relatives and friends in Washington were not going through and that any tweets pertaining to the situation in D.C. were being automatically taken down.
The nationwide protests came after the death of George Floyd, a black father of two who died at the hands of a white police officer Derek Chauvin.
“FYI ‘they’ are deleting posts and accounts posting about what’s going down in D.C. so know now that if I go silent, I was silenced," one Twitter user wrote.
“The hashtag #DCblackout is so scary!! They have shut down the phone coverage and social media in the whole area and there’s no news stations there reporting? What is happening over there," a second added.
“How is the #DCblackout not a violation of the first amendment??? They’re literally blocking live streams, posts, and all cellular data..they’re trying to silence the movement," a third claimed.
"Public Snapchat stories in DC have now been deleted. Zero signal, no one knows what’s going on there. The White House is completely dark, the streets as well. something’s not right. #DCblackout" a fourth chimed in.
President Donald J. Trump blamed the violent attacks and looting on groups like Antifa. He subsequently stated Antifa would be designated as a domestic terrorist organization.
That said, it is now being said that the D.C. blackout trend could be fake news aimed at causing hysteria and despondency. Some D.C. residents said there had been no blackout at all in the city.
"I'm downtown now, nearby the mall. Zero issues. Social media is working, internet is working, phones are working. No idea where people are getting the idea that things are down," one tweet read.
"Hey y'all, cell service or internet service in Washington D.C. was/is not turned off or blocked. I am not sure what that's about but it's untrue. Also, the geography of D.C. means we also use cell towers in Maryland and Virginia," another said.
"I live in DC and the internet and phones are working fine. The tweet everyone keeps retweeting seems like someone is trying to create hysteria," a third tweet read.