Advertisement

D.C. Union Station video screen plays PornHub clips

By Ben Hooper
A video screen at Union Station in Washington, D.C., has been temporarily taken out of commission after it was hacked to show pornographic videos for about three minutes Monday. Screenshot: WTTG-TV
A video screen at Union Station in Washington, D.C., has been temporarily taken out of commission after it was hacked to show pornographic videos for about three minutes Monday. Screenshot: WTTG-TV

Subscribe | UPI Odd Newsletter

May 17 (UPI) -- Officials at Washington's Union Station said hackers might be to blame for an advertising video screen showing graphic pornography.

Witnesses said one of new video advertising screens in the Main Hall, near the Chipotle eatery, started showing videos streamed from website PornHub about 5:30 p.m. Monday and continued for about three minutes, until the screen was unplugged by a bystander.

Advertisement

Beverley Swaim-Staley, president and CEO of the Union Station Redevelopment Corp., said she has requested an investigation from Ashkenazy Acquisition Corp., the company that leases and manages the property.

"We've asked them to certainly investigate the incident to make sure this doesn't happen again," Swaim-Staley told The Washington Post.

Officials said hackers are believed to have manipulated the sign remotely.

A worker at one of the station's fast food eateries said the incident was the second time the screen had displayed pornographic content, but Swain-Staley said she was not familiar with any other incidents. She conceded there may have been other incidents that went unreported.

"The downside with new technology is that it comes with new risks," she said.

Advertisement

Swaim-Staley said the screen will remain off until officials are satisfied that it's safe from outside manipulation.

Latest Headlines