K-Pop fans crash Dallas police force app in support of Black Lives Matter

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By ( Louder ) published

Police in Dallas asked citizens to send them "video of illegal activity from the protests" in the city - but instead, K-Pop fans crashed the app with their music heroes

Fans of K-Pop artists like BTS spammed Dallas police
Fans of K-Pop artists like BTS spammed Dallas police (Image credit: Cindy Ord/WireImage - Getty)

K-Pop fans have caused a police app to crash after they spammed it with videos of their musical heroes.

The Dallas Police Department’s iWatch app allows citizens to report “suspicious or criminal activity,” with users able to upload images, audio clips, video footage or GPS information.

But after authorities asked people to share “video of illegal activity” from the Black Lives Matter protests over the weekend, fans of Korean pop inundated the app with hundreds of pictures and FanCam videos of pop artists – crashing the app in the process.

Later, on the police’s Twitter feed, they reported that: “Due to technical difficulties iWatch Dallas app will be down temporarily.”

That tweet was then spammed with dozens of replies showing more videos, pictures, memes and animated clips.

Many record labels have said they’ll be holding a “Black Out Tuesday” tomorrow (June 2) in support of the protests, which swept across the US over the weekend.

The demonstrations took place after 46-year-old George Floyd died in Minneapolis after police officer Derek Chauvin knelt on Floyd’s neck for eight minutes and 46 seconds, despite Floyd pleading that he couldn’t breathe.

Chauvin was fired from the Minneapolis Police Department and has now been charged with third-degree murder and manslaughter. He is due to appear in court on June 8.

Scott Munro
Scott Munro
Louder e-commerce editor

Scott has spent 37 years in newspapers, magazines and online as an editor, production editor, sub-editor, designer, writer and reviewer. Scott joined our news desk in 2014 before moving into e-commerce in 2020. Scott maintains Louder’s buyer’s guides, highlights deals, and reviews headphones, speakers, earplugs and more. Over the last 12 years, Scott has written more than 11,500 articles across Louder, Classic Rock, Metal Hammer and Prog. He's previously written for publications including IGN, Sunday Mirror, Daily Record and The Herald, covering everything from news and features, to tech reviews, video games, travel and whisky. Scott's favourite bands are Fields Of The Nephilim, The Cure, New Model Army, All About Eve, The Mission, Cocteau Twins, Drab Majesty, Marillion and Rush.