As the chaos of the pandemic drags on, it's perhaps comforting to know some things are remaining comfortably consistent in this ongoing new normal. Like people not knowing how to Zoom correctly, for example.
Because here we are, more than a year in, and people are still getting caught naked during their virtual meetings because they forgot to turn their camera off—like Canadian politician Will Amos.
Amos, a Member of Parliament in Canada, accidentally gave his colleagues an eyeful this week—but like, the full eyeful.
Canadian politician still hasn’t quite mastered Zoom, gives an eyeful https://t.co/13qjDNfo64— Queerty (@Queerty) 1618507081.0
Amos, who represents the district of Pontiac, Quebec, had his mishap as he was joining a hybrid parliamentary session on Wednesday in which some politicians, including Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, were present on the floor of Parliament and others attended remotely, in order to provide for social distancing.
Amos is probably wishing he'd been among the in-person contingent right about now. His feed during the meeting showed him walking around his office completely in the buff.
Thankfully, his video was only visible internally within the House of Commons, and not as part of Canada's public-facing live feed that allows citizens to watch governmental proceedings.
Amos subsequently explained in a statement and on Twitter he had been changing clothes in advance of the meeting after having gone for a run, and didn't realize his camera was turned on.
In his statement, Amos issued an apology to his fellow MPs.
"I sincerely apologize to my colleagues in the House of Commons for this unintentional distraction. Obviously, it was an honest mistake and it won't happen again."
He reiterated that sentiment on Twitter.
I made a really unfortunate mistake today & obviously I’m embarrassed by it. My camera was accidentally left on as… https://t.co/qyUmzbkjQZ— William Amos (@William Amos) 1618442232.0
Amos's exposure was thankfully brief, but enough to cause quite a stir.
A politician from Bloc Québécois, a party in opposition to Amos's Liberal Party, made a shady reference to her political opponent's mistake later in the meeting.
"I think that this, today, we have beaten— we have set a new record. We've seen a member during Question Period imp… https://t.co/kAli6zm24B— Jonathan Goldsbie (@Jonathan Goldsbie) 1618438863.0
And screenshots of the moment went viral on social media.
On Twitter, there were plenty of laughs at Amos' expense.
I know Canada's procurement system is bad, but for the love of god can we at least get Will Amos some pants?— David Moscrop (@David Moscrop) 1618439666.0
Will Amos is taking open and transparent government to a whole new level.— Spencer Fernando 🇨🇦 (@Spencer Fernando 🇨🇦) 1618444383.0
You guys really ought to stop with all the Will Amos jokes. They're totally below the belt. #WillAmos— 222 Minutes (@222 Minutes) 1618448862.0
Will Amos MP, a Quebecker, The parliament Zoom session-wrecker, Had no way of knowing His camera was going, He says… https://t.co/iqKuLUwGvR— Mick Twister (@Mick Twister) 1618509712.0
But many others felt Amos' privacy was violated by screenshots of the mishap being distributed.
My thoughts on the Will Amos story : - Working from home right now is a nightmare. Period. - His colleagues did… https://t.co/td8b03MSFY— Julie S. Lalonde (@Julie S. Lalonde) 1618459905.0
I don’t care who you are, what political party you support or represent, what career you have, if you’re in public… https://t.co/wRCHbz0P7C— SkGirl (@SkGirl) 1618493615.0
All I'll say about the Will Amos photo is that if this had happened to a woman everyone would be losing their minds… https://t.co/Nz0kKGJxgX— Madison Cox (@Madison Cox) 1618497338.0
Let’s all be clear. Will Amos was violated and someone needs to be held responsible.— Dan_GT2 (@Dan_GT2) 1618528077.0
Please stop sharing the screenshot of Will Amos — it doesn’t matter that he’s elected, it’s not right to share it around— Cody Bondarchuk (@Cody Bondarchuk) 1618452369.0
Is someone keeping track of all the politicians sharing the Will Amos photos on social media? These are essentially his co-workers.— One Dose Summer Babe (@One Dose Summer Babe) 1618461433.0
Given that Amos' video appeared solely on the internal parliamentary feed visible only to MPs and House of Commons staff, the Leader of the Government in the House of Commons Pablo Rodriguez has called upon the Speaker to launch an investigation into who distributed the screenshots of Amos' mishap.
The Speaker responded he would consider the move.