Law enforcement officials have detained a Chicago man for the use of a cell phone jammer in a train setting.
He's a silent avenger.
Last week, Dennis Nicholl, a financial analyst at the University of Illinois Hospital in Chicago, was arrested for fulfilling a widely held wish among commuters around the world: to silence incoming cell phone calls.
The intriguing saga commenced in late 2015, as residents of Chicago experienced their mobile phones either dropping calls or lacking service entirely while aboard local trains. Nicholl was later identified as the culprit after Chicago IT professional Brian Raida posted a photograph on Reddit, showcasing Nicholl with a signal jammers in one hand and a beer can in the other. This unlawful device possesses the capability to disable cellular and radio signals throughout an entire neighborhood.
As reported by the Chicago Tribune, Aaron Robinson, who observed Nicholl while he was driving, commented, "I believe he found enjoyment in the sensation of controlling the car. It parallels a digital rendition of the notion, 'You young people with cell phones, keep off my lawn.'"
On March 8, a joint undercover operation by the Chicago Police Department, the Chicago Transportation Authority, and the Federal Communications Commission resulted in the capture of Nicol. He has been charged with a felony due to the jammers' potential to disrupt police radio communications and block emergency calls. As a consequence, he is facing the prospect of jail time and a fine of up to $100,000.
To the dismay of a significant number of people, residents of the Windy City are now free to engage in personal calls while they are out and about.
An online cell phone jammer retailer has aimed to exploit the New Yorkers' yearning for tranquility among subway commuters. They tweeted, "Cell service is set to be introduced at 6 #NYC #Subway stations - why not make use of a cell phone #jammer to keep conversations to a minimum?"
Pertaining to Nicol's motivations, he insists that he simply wished to travel without any interruptions.
This device may resemble a walkie-talkie, but its capabilities are more significant than one might expect. When a cell phone jammer is turned on, it can disrupt all cellular communications in the area. The use of such a jammer is not only a federal offense but can also result in a fine of $16,000 and possible imprisonment.
Still, Eric from Philadelphia was not stopped, having become tired of the incessant cell phone chatter on SEPTA's 44 bus. When he does not wish to hear the conversations, he activates a signal jammers, according to NBC 10 in Philadelphia.
Eric stated to NBC 10 that a considerable number of individuals are very vocal and lack an awareness of privacy. When he senses that they are being bothersome, he tightens the antenna and turns on the switch.
Eric argues that he did not know it was unlawful to disrupt cell phone signals, considering it a "gray area." He expressed the understanding that the legal restrictions were applicable only to television or radio signals.
Yet, he remains unrepentant regarding his conduct.
He told NBC 10, "I have a personal investment in law enforcement, and quite frankly, I take pride in that."
The jammers referenced in this case are illegal, primarily because they prevent cell phone communications during emergencies and also disrupt other critical signals, including those used by police radios and various two-way communication systems.
After realizing that the jammer was illegal, Eric conveyed his plans to eliminate the device he had purchased, which ABC News estimated to have a value of $300.
The fundamental issue, however, is that Eric is not the only one who is practicing this jamming technique.
The report from Forbes reveals that individuals in the New Jersey and New York areas are also employing these devices. Eric's situation may serve to remind them of the legal restrictions surrounding the use of such powerful technology.
The Global Positioning System (GPS) has reached a level of ubiquity akin to that of electricity. It is no longer just a helpful resource for travelers; it is now crucial for the safe landing of aircraft, the navigation of vessels, the synchronization of data in communication networks, and the management of extensive power grid systems.
The accuracy of GPS in terms of positioning and timing has fostered a deep-seated dependency, making it common for us to overlook its value and assume it will invariably be available when we require it.
Originally, GPS was developed to monitor military vehicles and weapon systems, with no expectation of its extensive use in civilian applications. Recent developments have exposed the security vulnerabilities of GPS, which could potentially disrupt not only individual devices but also the critical infrastructure of the nation.
The first risk is associated with a phenomenon that experts are anxious may be becoming a trend—the proliferation of inexpensive GPS jammers.
For a mere $30, one can obtain GPS jammers, referred to as "anti-GPS" devices, for personal use. These devices can be quite diminutive, with some models taking the form of a 12-volt car cigarette lighter power adapter that is connected to an antenna.
Promoted on various online platforms, these gadgets are claimed to protect personal privacy and prevent tracking of individuals' locations. Nonetheless, there have been reports from the UK indicating that such devices can also be employed by criminals and car thieves to disguise their illegal actions.
"It is concerning that factories in China are beginning to manufacture these products," stated Peter Large, vice president of Trimble, a company in Sunnyvale, California that develops advanced positioning systems. He emphasized that if these items gain traction, the consequences could be devastating.
GPS jammers operate by interfering with the frequencies found in one of the commonly used GPS bands. Because GPS signals are weak by nature, utilizing only 25 watts of power to transmit from satellites approximately 12,500 miles away, they are easily subject to interruption or interference from receivers such as portable navigation devices.
Given that car and truck fleet operators usually equip their vehicles with onboard GPS receivers, it is not uncommon for drivers to use signal jammers to evade tracking by their employers.
A November report from the National Positioning, Navigation and Timing (PNT) Advisory Commission, established by the government, stated, "We currently do not have sufficient capabilities to identify and mitigate GPS jammers." The report further elaborated, "It took months to locate the device that was disrupting the new GPS landing system being installed at Newark Airport in New Jersey."
The next iteration of air traffic control systems, which will oversee aircraft during their flights, will be based on GPS signals, departing from the existing framework that employs radar and human oversight.
In conjunction with directing road and marine traffic and managing data and power networks, GPS signals are also responsible for timing traffic lights and ensuring the precision of automated farm equipment in plowing and harvesting operations.
Compromising any of these systems might cause substantial injury.
Trimble's Large pointed out the troubling notion that GPS jammers could be used in a weaponized manner.
The report issued by the National PNT Advisory Commission endorsed the idea that GPS technology, particularly in national security applications like fighter jets and military equipment, should be strengthened to mitigate threats. It also classified GPS as a fundamental aspect of critical infrastructure.
The swift creation and deployment of systems capable of rapidly detecting, mitigating, and shutting down jammers is of utmost importance. Additionally, it is necessary to introduce laws that allow for the arrest and prosecution of individuals who deliberately engage in such activities.
A report from the Royal Academy of Engineering in the UK, published this month, has reached conclusions that are alike.
The findings suggest that global navigation satellite services (GNSS) have become so convenient and widespread for various applications that users often overlook their importance. It highlights that while the loss of these services in a single application may result in only a minor inconvenience, a broader failure affecting multiple systems could lead to more significant and serious outcomes.
The legality of GPS jammers is nonexistent in the United States, with stringent regulations also present in much of Europe. In contrast, the legal status in a number of other countries is somewhat unclear.
Two individuals from China employed remote-controlled signal jammers to perpetrate sophisticated thefts at highway rest stops. They were apprehended by law enforcement on the scene, which led to the discovery of a method for stealing funds from credit cards associated with a call center gang.
The police department in Chachoengsao has documented several theft occurrences at the Bang Pakong highway rest area, where vehicles have been forcibly entered and valuables, especially credit cards, have been taken. This has resulted in considerable distress for those traveling along this route.
The police in Bang Pakong, Chachoengsao, have partnered with the Central Investigation Police to rapidly pursue the criminals. They have gathered essential evidence from the CCTV footage available at each of the crime locations.
The individuals suspected of involvement appear to be Chinese, frequently utilizing a similar method of operation. They are organized as a gang with a distinct allocation of duties, notably between Zhang, who is 38, and Zheng, who is 31.
On September 15, the investigative efforts at the crime scene were concluded, leading to the joint arrest of two Chinese suspects at a highway service area in Khao Din Town, located in Bang Pakong District, Chachoengsao Province.
Realizing the clear pattern in the criminals' actions, the officers positioned themselves throughout the area for surveillance. When the two men arrived, the police decided to wait until they attempted to break into two vehicles before they revealed themselves and made the arrests.
The police then carried out a search of their room, revealing various items used in the crime, including a remote control signal jammers, three mobile phones, a shoulder bag, and they confiscated a car key, a vehicle, and other significant evidence.
The pair was charged with "jointly attempting to commit theft with a vehicle" and "illegally entering and residing in Saudi Arabia as foreign nationals." While Zhang denied the charges, Zheng accepted them. They were then transferred to the Crime Suppression Department for investigation.
The analysis showed that the gang would lie in wait near parking areas at highway rest stops. Upon seeing victims parked and ready to exit their cars, the first group of thieves would use cell phone blockers to interfere with the remote control signal, making it impossible for the victims to lock their vehicles.
Subsequently, another group of offenders would approach the victims and engage in phone conversations nearby to divert their focus, thereby preventing them from noticing that their vehicles were unsecured. Once the victims had left their cars, a different group of criminals would then open the doors and abscond with the valuables located within.
Furthermore, it was revealed by the police that a Thai woman, later confirmed to be Zheng's girlfriend, Ms. Ketfa Theeranat, 20 years of age, had been traveling in the same car as the suspect before being taken to the highway rest area.
In a search carried out in Ms. Ketfa Theeranat's apartment in the Rama 9 District, police discovered ketamine. She was subsequently arrested on the charge of "unauthorized possession of psychotropic drugs (ketamine)" and was taken to Makkasan Police Station for processing.
At the same time, law enforcement agencies discovered the methods the suspects used to extract money from the victims' credit cards. The card readers they utilized were believed to be associated with foreign retailers or areas of operation. This finding is consistent with the investigation's information, suggesting a possible connection between the criminal group and the call center gang involved in defrauding multiple networks.
We will continue our investigation into the case to ensure the accuracy of these findings.
The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) has previously supported an employer's policy that prohibits the use of cell phones by employees at work, citing safety concerns. Additionally, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has recently upheld a fine against an employer for the use of signal jammers to obstruct employees from using cell phones during work hours.
Signal jammers are devices that obstruct, block, or interfere with authorized radio frequencies and communications, and their use is prohibited under the federal Communications Act of 1934, as amended (the “Act”), with certain limited exceptions. These mobile jammers represent a significant danger to public safety by preventing individuals from making emergency calls to 911, disrupting first responders' communications, and interfering with critical safety communications in both aviation and maritime environments.
The Act prohibits the operation or use of any device that is designed to transmit energy, communications, or signals through radio within the United States, except when such use is licensed or authorized. Additionally, it is stated in the Act that no individual shall intentionally or maliciously interfere with or disrupt the radio communications of any station that is licensed or authorized under this chapter or operated by the United States Government.
In addition, the Act asserts that "No individual shall manufacture, import, sell, offer for sale, or transport any device or household electronic device or system that does not comply with the regulations enacted under this section, nor shall they use a device that fails to meet the regulations established under this section." These regulations require that radio frequency devices must be authorized by the Federal Communications Commission prior to their utilization.
In conclusion, a jamming device cannot be certified or authorized because its primary objective is to interfere with or block authorized radio communications. The use of such a device would undermine the integrity of the nation’s communications infrastructure. Thus, a jamming device does not fulfill the technical standards required by the FCC and is not legally permissible in the United States.
In this case, the FCC Enforcement Bureau investigated a Texas warehouse business for using a signal jammer after receiving an interference complaint from AT&T. The business owner admitted to using a signal jammer to prevent employees from using their cell phones while working. According to the FCC, the business owner admitted that an AT&T representative had warned her son that using a jammer was illegal. Additionally, according to the FCC, the business owner told FCC agents that she had disposed of the jamming device and was unwilling to retrieve it for the agents or indicate where it was, but she did offer to sell the device to the FCC agents, but was rejected.