Prediction market platform Polymarket issued an apology for allowing users to place bets on the fate of American pilots aboard a U.S. fighter jet downed over Iran.
A two-seater F-15E Strike Eagle was shot down on Friday, according to a U.S. official. One crew member was rescued, but the other remains missing.
In a since-deleted market, users were able to wager on when the pilots might be rescued, with the majority predicting a Saturday rescue.
“US confirms pilots rescued by…?” the market read.
It can influence political events, and any coverage of those events. Reporters have already received death threats for writing news that didn’t support an outcome that’d cause someone’s bet to pay off.