Trolls 'Zoom bomb' NA meetings as support services move online

Tens of thousands of people are using video conferencing apps like Zoom. Source: Getty

Narcotics Anonymous say online meetings have been subject to 'Zoom bombing’ as face to face meetings are shut down amid coronavirus social distancing restrictions, with one group reporting trolls claiming to be the Ku Klux Klan crashed one meeting.

Social distancing restrictions across the world have forced support groups like Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous to cancel their face to face meetings, often held in churches, halls and community centres.

In the United Kingdom, where gatherings of more than two people have been banned, the UK Narcotics Anonymous website tells members “face to face meetings are now effectively illegal.”

This has forced members, young and old, to transition to online video conference platforms like Zoom, Discord, BlueJeans and GoToMeeting in order to get the treatment and support they need to manage their addiction.

The uptake has been largely successful, according to AA and NA representatives. Peter H, the UK Narcotics Anonymous spokesperson, said NA online meetings have been successful.

“Just about every single town that has Narcotics Anonymous meetings is online,” he said.

Despite success, Zoom Bombing -- trolls that gain access to Zoom meetings to harass participants -- have targeted AA and NA meetings.

Peter M, the PR Chairperson from Narcotics Anonymous Australia, told Dateline that people who claimed to be the Klu Klux Klan (KKK) bombed one of their women's meetings.

“[That] was pretty disturbing for them.”

Three Zoom Bombers interrupted the NA meeting by shouting racial slurs, forcing the host to shut down the meeting.

“I don't think they were really KKK, they're just kids,” said Peter M.

Reports of trolls shouting slurs and utilising the share screen function to display pornography during the video conference has prompted Zoom to increase security measures. The use of the platform has skyrocketed across the globe amid coronavirus shutdowns, prompting increased scrutiny and criticism over security settings. Now all Zoom meetings require a password and a virtual waiting room feature will be turned on by default.

Hosts of Zoom meetings can also prevent a participant from screen-sharing, can mute or place participants on hold and remove individual participants from the meeting.

“Zoom has apologised profusely, they've been a victim of their own popularity,” said Peter M.

Leigh, a recovering alcoholic and AA member, told Dateline “We also have a duty of care to our own members to keep them safe within that meeting environment… Unfortunately, these Zoom bombers don't make it easy in a difficult enough climate as it is.”

Coronavirus presents a new challenge for recovering addicts. Stay-at-home orders and potential job losses can put extra stress on members.

Though many miss the face-to-face meetings and human interaction it involves, the advantage of online meetings is accessibility. As long as they’ve been taught how to use the video conferencing platforms, addicts can find daily meetings, anywhere around the world.

“I'm going online to a meeting in New York tomorrow morning, which I would never have been able to do,” Leigh said.

Both AA and NA run 24-hour meetings that can attract hundreds of members internationally.

The barriers of illness, cost, distance and physical disability are overcome by using online platforms. AA and NA representatives told Dateline about members who live in remote areas of South Africa, Norfolk Island and the Scottish Highlands whose only access to treatment are online meetings, describing the platforms as a ‘godsend’.

The concern now is how to get newcomers to use the platforms, since traditional outreach programs like visiting treatment centres and handing out flyers have been hindered due to coronavirus.

Many AA and NA websites have also published how-to videos and step by step instructions for installing and using video conference platforms.

Once coronavirus is no longer a threat, Peter H from UK Narcotics Anonymous said a positive outcome may be that addicts are now educated in these online tools and can utilise both face to face and online meetings to support them in their recovery.

“It's got people used to online meetings, particularly if people are trying to recover from drug addiction in far flung parts of the world… It’s another tool to recovery.”