CEA's take on CES Gizmodo prank: Banned!

By Rafe Needleman – January 11, 2008, 2:50 PM PST

In reaction to "Gizmodogate," the gadget blog's prank of shutting down flat-screen displays on the show floor and during demos at CES (see Bloggers behaving badly), the conference's organizer, the Consumer Electronics Association, sent me this statement:

We have been informed of inappropriate behavior on the show floor by a credentialed media attendee from the Web site Gizmodo, owned by Gawker Media. Specifically, the Gizmodo staffer interfered with the exhibitor booth operations of numerous companies, including disrupting at least one press event. The Gizmodo staffer violated the terms of CES media credentials and caused harm to CES exhibitors. This Gizmodo staffer has been identified and will be barred from attending any future CES events. Additional sanctions against Gizmodo and Gawker Media are under discussion.

See also: Gizmodo editor Brian Lam's argument against my position on Valleywag (comment No. 7).

Category: Security and spyware Tags: Gizmodogate, CES 2008, Gizmodo

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by tenioman January 11, 2008 3:15 PM PST: LOL haha gizmodo; Reply to this comment


by BillInTx January 11, 2008 9:47 PM PST: Bravo! How funny is it now, you bozos?; Reply to this comment


by romeyinfc January 11, 2008 10:08 PM PST: Good riddance!; Reply to this comment


by RothwynMVP January 12, 2008 6:12 AM PST: What bothers me is that a prankster site can get credentials to CES but a legitimate web site magazine had issues getting credentials. This incident only makes it more difficult for decent online press to enter this event and now puts a cloud over the online press who will be closely scrutinized and subsequently abused because of these Gizmodo idiots.; Reply to this comment View reply
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by Noah-Juan January 12, 2008 9:19 AM PST: Some people might consider the Gizmodo bloggers' actions as a form of Denial-of-Service attack, or digital vandalism. Are they evaluating criminal or civil charges against the individuals or Gizmodo?; Reply to this comment


by mas90guru January 13, 2008 4:41 AM PST: There has been a significant amount of press about Gawker media undergoing all sorts of internal reorganization. I have yet to see one online report do much other than admonish the kids from Gizmodo (and that's what they are - simply kids working their first job that gives them no supervision). What's really working here is the slow spiral of Gawker Media - which is your story and not the frat boy mentality at Gizmodo. The prank would have been yanked from publication and the responsible kids dealt with at any other reputable outlet. My guess is that the readership will not flee Gizmodo but the manufacturers will look twice at whether a Gizmodo interview or product scoop is granted first or after other outlets get theirs.; Reply to this comment


by DailyDOOH January 14, 2008 1:22 AM PST: At shows and events, perhaps I can understand why exhibitors would have or rent (consumer) LCDs or PDPs but it amazes me in business digital signage deployments why one would go to the expense and hassle of using any consumer digital screen complete with all the things you do NOT need - err like a remote control!!!! (also volume controls, buttons, sound sometimes, on / off button etc etc) Without remote control support this 'vandalism' simply does not work (I agree that it is 'vandalism; BTW) Visit www.dailydooh.com for industry analysis on digital out of home; Reply to this comment


by MadLyb January 14, 2008 7:20 AM PST: Totally worth it. Hopefully, it properly deflated the over reaching impact of this bloated excuse for a show. What really surprises me is how many in the media were already criticizing the show, but are now indignant that it was negatively impacted. Go Gizmodo!; Reply to this comment


by jaspoon187 January 14, 2008 8:21 AM PST: Gizmodo is one of the best online magazines, Cnet is THE worst. Nobody at Cnet would have the balls to pull off such a hilarious prank at one of the stupidist tech shows known to man. It's become nothing but a 4 day commercial for slightly improved over last year crap where large corporations strut their stuff. Shame on cNet for thinking they are taking the moral high ground by "reporting" this BS. F@#$ing lemmings.; Reply to this comment


by brianbot5000 January 14, 2008 10:16 AM PST: MadLyb and jaspoon187 - how do you propose CES should be? I suggest writing those ideas down, and starting your own tech show if you think CES is so horrible. We're all looking forward to seeing how much cool stuff you'll have at your "indie" version...I'm envisioning some really cool sketches of sweet futuristic gadgets! As far as pranks go, this one isn't all that funny. I recall doing the same thing back in high school when one of my nerd friends got a TV remote control wrist watch.; Reply to this comment View reply
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