How an Online 'Lego' Gamer Infiltrated the White House Press Corps (politico.com)
- Reference: 0144879288
- News link: https://news.slashdot.org/story/21/04/10/219219/how-an-online-lego-gamer-infiltrated-the-white-house-press-corps
- Source link: https://www.politico.com/news/2021/04/09/lego-gamer-infiltrated-white-house-press-480673
The reporters believed they were helping a real reporter who was prohibited by Covid protocols from attending. Politico reports:
> That colleague, who goes by the name Kacey Montagu, [2]doesn't exist — at least not as an actual reporter . Since late last year, Montagu has taken on the identity of a White House correspondent extraordinaire with a fictional outlet to boot: White House News, shortened in emails to WHN... In communications with confidants, Montagu has posed as a member of White House Correspondents Association, claiming to be a reporter for The Daily Mail, the British tabloid known for its gossipy coverage of celebrities and political figures. Montagu also communicates regularly with top White House reporters and has had several exchanges with White House officials.
>
> But Montagu never joined WHCA and The Daily Mail. There is no Kacey Montagu, except as a digital impersonation of a White House correspondent...
>
> Montagu's activity is a remarkable illustration of how the online landscape, along with the age of pandemic-related virtual work, has opened up avenues for the mischievous-minded to infiltrate the top echelons of power. What's perhaps more remarkable is that he or she did it all without raising a solitary eyebrow... until Thursday.
Montagu had started a Twitter account showing the schedules of White House officials, which ultimately attracted a following by actual White House correspondents and even some minor government staffers, according to the article.
> Acquaintances...believe Montagu's White House moonlighting began as something to boast about in the online global gaming platform called ROBLOX, where users jokingly call themselves "Legos." Within that platform is a role-playing group called nUSA, where people from across the world engage in a mock U.S. government exercise...
>
> Another longtime member of the community in touch with Montagu said they suspected that they created the account "just for the memes" and never assumed things would progress this far.
[1] https://www.mediaite.com/news/psaki-grilled-on-bidens-contact-with-obama-in-exchange-apparently-started-by-fictional-reporter-made-of-lego/
[2] https://www.politico.com/news/2021/04/09/lego-gamer-infiltrated-white-house-press-480673
Shut up about toys (Score:2)
I am in a bad mood cause I missed out on buying the new Optimus Prime robot before it got sold out.
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Reminds me of "Jingle All The Way", why can't the lesser figures get more support, you hater.
Where's the love for my bro Soundwave or even better, I want the Cybertron action figure. While all my friends are playing with their little bots, I gotta get out a crane to drop in my Cybertron toy. "Fuck your couch"
Fictional Characters Welcome, please sign in. (Score:2)
The White House press rules typically admit fictional news characters whose roles involve the White House, as evidence of the Press Secretary's interaction and approval. Website character Ananova did this in the past.
Now that Rush Limbaugh is dead, and his show continues with tapes he left behind, what happened to iHeartRadio's seat?
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> No abortions for you! But we'll certainly keep the death penalty around. Explain the logic of that belief.
Well this isn't of particular interest to me, I'd say something like "unborn children aren't guilty of anything and deserve a chance, whereas criminals have proven they don't need another one".
Actually that seems pretty reasonable.
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That would be pro innocent life, not pro life.
Blurring the lines. (Score:2)
> Acquaintances...believe Montagu's White House moonlighting began as something to boast about in the online global gaming platform called ROBLOX, where users jokingly call themselves "Legos." Within that platform is a role-playing group called nUSA, where people from across the world engage in a mock U.S. government exercise...
Sort of a real live mmorpg.
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Slashdot was big in politics ever since the 2000 technology malfunctions of punch cards in a Presidential election.
Please remember, it's Saturday Night in America so tech news doesn't flow very well right now.
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linux.
does kacey montagu use it
Re: Obsessed with politics (Score:2)
Yep, fake news about a fake reporter "infiltrating" when probably he really didn't. (probably just asked to join and provided fake info no one checked)
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(probably just asked to join and provided fake info no one checked)
Succeeding at that is infiltration.