CNN showed George Zimmerman’s Social Security number during its live coverage of the trial against him in the killing of Trayvon Martin, Mediaite reported. Zimmerman is accused of second-degree murder in the teenager’s 2012 shooting death.
According to Mediaite, Zimmerman’s Social Security number as well as other personal information was shown because it was on a “narrative report” used during a detective’s testimony. The information was visible on the “court video feed…in close-up.”
Mediaite posted an image of the broadcast with the person details blacked out and noted that CNN said the court clerk usually is supposed to “redact the necessary information.”
iMediaEthics has written to CNN asking more about this incident and will update with any response.