Federal complaint filed against Wisconsin Republicans after fake emergency alert

[RandySF]

he Democratic Party of Wisconsin Saturday filed a complaint with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) following a Republican-backed ad broadcasting fake weather alerts via SMS text messages telling Wisconsin voters not to elect Wisconsin Supreme Court candidate, Milwaukee County Circuit Court Judge Janet Protasiewicz.

The ads sponsored by the Republican Party of Wisconsin and Friends of Justice Daniel Kelly aired just as many parts of Wisconsin were placed under a real tornado watches, which in some parts of the state turned into tornado warnings.

An SMS message with a video and title placard displayed “***EMERGENCY ALERT SYSTEM*** WISCONSIN VOTER ALERT.” around 2:30 p.m. on Friday, the complaint says. The backdrop showed different colored bars used when TV programming is interrupted with a scratchy voice and beeps used commonly during emergency broadcasts.

“Large portions of Wisconsin were under severe weather alerts, and were watching their phones and other devices for communications,” according to the complaint. “This storm, generally, had been deemed a “particularly dangerous situation” of the highest order risk, and millions in the southern part of Wisconsin were under tornado watches. At least three separate tornados were spotted. On the other hand, portions of northern Wisconsin were under blizzard warnings. Threats were severe and widespread.”




https://wislawjournal.com/2023/04/03/federal-complaint-filed-against-wisconsin-republicans-after-fake-emergency-alert/

[CrispyQ]

1. Republicans are slime of the lowest order.

It's getting harder & harder to respect the republicans I know in my life, who all claim to be moderate, & yet they still support a party that is rife with this kind of shit. SMDH

[Wild blueberry]

2. Good

That was despicable.

[BumRushDaShow]

3. Good.

I had posted in an earlier thread about this sort of thing and how the FCC has fined entities that have done the fake "emergency alerts", upwards of $20K. For example -

https://www.fcc.gov/document/fcc-proposes-20k-fine-against-beasley-apparent-eas-violation

FCC Proposes $20K Fine Against Beasley for Apparent EAS Violation

Full Title: In the Matter of Beasley Media Group Licenses, LLC, Licensee of KDWN(AM), Las Vegas, Nevada
Document Type(s): NAL
Bureau(s): Enforcement

Description:
FCC Enforcement Bureau proposes a $20K fine against Beasley Media for apparently transmitting an EAS tone during the "Doug Basham Radio Show" in the absence of a legitimate emergency, authorized test of the EAS, or a PSA.

DA/FCC #: DA-21-1353
File #: EB-IHD-20-00031587
FCC Record Citation: 36 FCC Rcd 17064 (21)

FCC Record: DA-21-1353A1_Rcd.pdf

[budkin]

4. That will backfire BIG TIME

Hope they enjoy their loss.