Last Friday, I issued a statement on the zoom bombing incident occurring during the Finance Committee meeting on March 14, 2024.   The same statement was reissued today through News and Notices to reach a broader audience.  Since the event, staff in various departments have been involved in developing a further response. I would like to take this opportunity clarify what happened and to share information on the additional steps we will take to prevent future occurrences.

Again, on Thursday evening, March 14, 2024, the Finance Committee met in regular session beginning at 7PM, in hybrid format, meaning committee members and public could participate either in person, or through remote access on the Zoom platform.  At approximately 8:52pm, a member of the public shared their screen showing a graphic containing anti-Semitic images and other vulgar images and language.  At this same time, several persons in the remote audience engaged in a dialog of anti-Semitic rhetoric and other vile comments. The screen sharing and dialog ensued from that point, and until 9:04pm. During this time, staff worked to identify and expel those Zoom users making anti-Semitic comments.   I recognize that our response was too slow, and the time needed to restore order was too long, resulting in harm to committee members, members of the public and staff in attendance, and for this reason I offer my deepest apologies to all who bore witness to this unconscionable and disgusting behavior.

This incident was immediately referred to the Concord Police Department who in turn has opened an investigation, and is actively working with the State Police and the Commonwealth Fusion Center, https://www.mass.gov/doc/fusion-center-brochure/download, and the FBI.  Additional information will be provided once it is available.

Staff have reported this matter to Zoom for further investigation with the hopes of identifying and banning these users from future meetings. Staff are also conducting a review of Terms of Service for both Zoom and YouTube to ensure user compliance.  I will note that while we have received requests for a copy of the video from last week’s meeting from multiple persons, until such time as our review is complete, and both Town Counsel and law enforcement has authorized its release, copies of the recording will not be made available. 

This week, as with most weeks, we have multiple public meetings scheduled, including two public hearings in advance of our Annual Town Meeting.  Our technology team is currently engaging in additional outreach to Zoom meeting hosts to confirm that all are using the latest release of Zoom software, which allows for enhanced security protocols.  Our technology team is also finalizing a one-page leaflet which provides step-by-step instructions on how to quickly and efficiently shut down a Zoom Bombing event.  In addition to wide distribution of this material, we will post this information in each municipal meeting room, with room specific instructions which are necessary as different protocols are required depending upon the meeting format, specific equipment being used and whether the meeting is being live-streamed.

Further, given the timing of the upcoming Finance Committee public hearings, we have moved those meetings over to Zoom’s webinar format.  While we have yet to decide whether we will use this platform on a regular basis, it feels like the prudent course of action, at least, for this week while we continue user outreach, and gain a better understanding of what more we can do to be better prepared.

Moving forward, we have committed to conducting a Post Incident Analysis, following the pattern established within our Broadband enterprise for reviewing outages, the results of which will be made available to the public.

Concord has a long and distinguished history of civic engagement which respects our first amendment rights, avoids ad hominem attacks, and seeks to work as a group to advance the best interests of our community. We will continue to honor those values in our own practice of civic engagement, while at the same time, remaining vigilant against the actions of those who seek to cause harm to our friends, neighbors and colleagues.  

Kerry Lafleur
Town Manager