The Royal Canadian Mounted Police service in British Columbia has issued an apology after a press conference on the death of Australian Lucas Fowler was streamed using the cat ear filter.
Fowler and his American girlfriend Chynna Deese were found dead by the side of a remote highway earlier this week, and their deaths are being investigated as a double homicide.
Police in British Columbia live streamed an address to the public earlier today, but failed to turn the filter off, resulting in a strange and upsetting spectacle for those who viewed the broadcast.
Journalist Tyler Dawson of Canada’s National Post managed to capture a screengrab of the press conference, the original of which has since been scrubbed from social media:
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. pic.twitter.com/j8GvkvKA4u
— Tyler Dawson (@tylerrdawson) July 19, 2019
The RCMP were criticised on social media for their “embarrassing” display and for showing disrespect to the families of the victims.
Officials have apologised for the mistake, claiming that the cat ear filter was a “automatic setting”. They promised a new video, which they have since published to Facebook.
Earlier this year, a Pakistani government press conference was streamed with the cat ear filter.
Given the frequency with which important announcements are made on social media, it would probably be a good idea for authorities to start triple-checking before going live to avoid similar situations in future.
Yes we are aware and addressing it as it’s an automatic setting. Thank you, we will rectify and issue a video shortly.
— BCRCMP (@BCRCMP) July 19, 2019
In an official statement on the deaths of Lucas Fowler and Chynna Deese, police said that:
On Monday July 15 2019, at approximately 7:19 a.m., Northern Rockies RCMP frontline officers were called to an area of Highway 97 approximately 20 kilometers south of Liard Hot Springs. When officers arrived they located the bodies of two adults, a woman and a man, who were deceased. A blue 1986 Chevrolet van bearing Alberta licence plates was located at the scene.
Early in the investigation, the deaths were deemed suspicious and investigators from the North District and BC RCMP Major Crime Units were called to assist in the investigation. The investigators remain in the area and will draw upon any additional support and specialised units required as the investigation unfolds.
Lucas Fowler was the son of NSW Police Chief Inspector Stephen Fowler, and authorities have said that they are “providing support to him and his family.”
