Visual sex alert in Iraq: billboards off

Iraqi authorities have ordered the shutdown of all electronic billboards in Baghdad after a hacker used them to display pornographic films.

A pornographic film was projected on a billboard at a major road junction in the Iraqi capital, the BBC reported. These images went viral on social media.

Police said one person was detained in connection with the incident. The statement said the suspect was a technician who had financial problems with the company that operates the billboards. The suspect was recorded to have carried out this action in retaliation.

A security official, who asked not to be named, said the hacker “played pornographic movies for a few minutes before authorities cut the power cord” on Saturday. Because of these “immoral scenes,” the official said, authorities “shut down all billboards in Baghdad” until security measures were reviewed.

Billboards in the capital, often used to advertise products or politicians, were turned off on Sunday morning.