THE FBI are searching for the person who hacked Leslie Jones’ personal website.
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Federal law enforcement agencies have opened an investigation into the alleged hacking of comedian Leslie Jones’ website, according to Department of Homeland Security spokesperson Marsha Catron.
Not long before this week’s hack, Jones had been in Brazil, where NBC sent her to provide social media coverage of the Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro after she posted several enthusiastic videos of herself supporting US athletes on Twitter.
She called on Twitter to take more action against online trolls last month after she shared a string of racist tweets she had been sent.
“ICE Homeland Security Investigations in NY does now have an open investigation”, a Homeland Security spokesperson said in a statement to multiple news outlets on Thursday.
The Department of Homeland Security said it was looking into the breach, which saw the comedienne’s personal information including her driving licence and passport published on the site.
The hackers also juxtaposed images of the actress with photos of Harambe, a deceased gorilla. “I’m with you. -H”, the Democratic nominee tweeted on Thursday.
Attorney Jonathan Steinsapir told the Associated Press that those who broke into Jones’ site and replaced its content with copies of confidential documents and a racist video are clearly breaking the law.
As news of the hack spread, Twitter filled up with expressions of support for Jones and frustration at the continued racism and sexism that many women of colour face online. It’s racist and sexist.
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Gavin Newsom, California lieutenant governor and former San Francisco mayor, wrote, “No one deserves to be attacked the way Leslie Jones was. This ain’t “kids joshing round”.
