RCMP Cat-Fliter Press Conference Live Stream

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Overview

The RCMP Cat Filter Press Conference Live Stream refers to an incident in which the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) live-streamed a press conference on Facebook about a double homicide with a cat filter preset left on the video settings. The RCMP has since apologized for the mistake.

Background

On July 19th, 2019, held a press conference regarding the homicide of Chynna Noelle Deese, 24, and Lucas Robertson Fowler, 23, who were found shot and killed near their 1986 Chevrolet van on Highway 97 on July 15th, 2019, according to Gizmodo.^[1] However, the police force accidentally had a cat filter preset on the Facebook video live stream, manipulating the image and digitally adding cat whiskers and ears to the face of Sergeant Janelle Shoihet.

That day, Twitter^[2] user @tylerrdawson tweeted an image of the press conferences. They wrote, "The B.C. RCMP are giving a press conference on the two people murdered on the Alaska Highway, and they have the cat ear filter on." Within three days, the tweet received more than 4,300 likes and 1,900 retweets (shown below).

Developments

That day, the RCMP also posted a video broadcast of the broadcast on Facebook without the use of the cat filter (shown below).

RCMP Response

On July 19th, 2019, the RCMP responded to messages about the live stream on Twitter.^[3] They wrote, "Yes we are aware and addressing it as it's an automatic setting. Thank you, we will rectify and issue a video shortly" (shown below).

The Daily Beast^[4] confirmed with the authorities that the filter had been left on "accidentally." They wrote:

"The Royal Canadian Mounted Police in British Columbia later explained that an 'automatic setting' on Facebook Live had accidentally been switched on when they were announcing news about the killing of an American woman and her Australian boyfriend. After re-recording the entire press conference minus the 'cat filter,' Sgt. Janelle Shoihet apologized for the 'technical difficulties' viewers experienced the first time around."