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A Computer Generated Swatting Service Is Causing Havoc Across America

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11–20 of 57 posts

Re: A Computer Generated Swatting Service Is Causing Havoc Across America

#11
post #10
post #2

Is swatting a thing outside of the US? I've never heard of it happening here in the Netherlands. It seems to me that the concept of swatting requires a not-to-competent shoot-first-ask-questions-later police force. If the US police force uniquely has these qualities, it seems prudent to reorganise it.

US police can and are frequently shot and killed. US citizens can legally carry guns. That's the difference. US policing is different because the risks are different. Moreover, if there's a report of a hostage situation or gun violence, there is a chance that the situation is real and unfolding live. These are two very different lists: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_law_enforcement_office... https://en.wikiped…

It’s time to have tough gun control, because blue lives matter, said literally no one in America.

Re: A Computer Generated Swatting Service Is Causing Havoc Across America

#12
Can't they just trace back the phone caller id, and file charges for bogus calls? It's not clear in the article, is it spoofed or overseas numbers making the calls? Would 911 service prioritise calls without verified caller id to the level of sending armed swat teams?

Re: A Computer Generated Swatting Service Is Causing Havoc Across America

#13
post #2

Is swatting a thing outside of the US? I've never heard of it happening here in the Netherlands. It seems to me that the concept of swatting requires a not-to-competent shoot-first-ask-questions-later police force. If the US police force uniquely has these qualities, it seems prudent to reorganise it.

It does happen outside as well.

It also requires good chances the person accused is armed, it's the two sides of the equation that makes it happen more often badly in America.

Re: A Computer Generated Swatting Service Is Causing Havoc Across America

#14
post #11
post #10

Earlier quoted context omitted.

US police can and are frequently shot and killed. US citizens can legally carry guns. That's the difference. US policing is different because the risks are different. Moreover, if there's a report of a hostage situation or gun violence, there is a chance that the situation is real and unfolding live. These are two very different lists: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_law_enforcement_office... https://en.wikiped…

It’s time to have tough gun control, because blue lives matter, said literally no one in America.

Biden has been using something like 'you can't be pro cop and anti gun control' on social media

Re: A Computer Generated Swatting Service Is Causing Havoc Across America

#15
post #6
post #3

In some future, completing a CAPTCHA, will be a prerequisite for contacting public services.

By that time solving captcha would be a bigger problem for people rather than computer. Especially in a situation of distress.

Not to mention the fact that they are nearly impossible for people with certain disabilities to perform.

Re: A Computer Generated Swatting Service Is Causing Havoc Across America

#16
post #12

Can't they just trace back the phone caller id, and file charges for bogus calls? It's not clear in the article, is it spoofed or overseas numbers making the calls? Would 911 service prioritise calls without verified caller id to the level of sending armed swat teams?

Caller ID is an optional feature and currently phone calls can be made while spoofing the source. This is why people get so many scam calls. As I understand it, the industry is still in the process of adopting changes that will prevent this.

Re: A Computer Generated Swatting Service Is Causing Havoc Across America

#17
post #11
post #10

Earlier quoted context omitted.

US police can and are frequently shot and killed. US citizens can legally carry guns. That's the difference. US policing is different because the risks are different. Moreover, if there's a report of a hostage situation or gun violence, there is a chance that the situation is real and unfolding live. These are two very different lists: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_law_enforcement_office... https://en.wikiped…

It’s time to have tough gun control, because blue lives matter, said literally no one in America.

Except for the police, who call for gun control all the time, because of the obvious self interest.

You can see the policy paper of the International Association of Chiefs of Police:

https://www.theiacp.org/sites/default/files/2018-08/IACP%20F...

The IACP has been a strong supporter of the assault weapons ban since 1992, and our membership has approved several reauthorizations of support in the years since. The membership took this action because we, as law enforcement executives, understand that the criminal use of semiautomatic assault weapons pose a grave risk to our officers and the communities they are sworn to protect.

or

https://www.cnn.com/2022/06/16/politics/police-organizations...

Re: A Computer Generated Swatting Service Is Causing Havoc Across America

#18
post #12

Can't they just trace back the phone caller id, and file charges for bogus calls? It's not clear in the article, is it spoofed or overseas numbers making the calls? Would 911 service prioritise calls without verified caller id to the level of sending armed swat teams?

Between STIR/SHAKEN and NSA, this guy hasn't been found yet?

Re: A Computer Generated Swatting Service Is Causing Havoc Across America

#19
post #10
post #2

Is swatting a thing outside of the US? I've never heard of it happening here in the Netherlands. It seems to me that the concept of swatting requires a not-to-competent shoot-first-ask-questions-later police force. If the US police force uniquely has these qualities, it seems prudent to reorganise it.

US police can and are frequently shot and killed. US citizens can legally carry guns. That's the difference. US policing is different because the risks are different. Moreover, if there's a report of a hostage situation or gun violence, there is a chance that the situation is real and unfolding live. These are two very different lists: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_law_enforcement_office... https://en.wikiped…

> US police can and are frequently shot and killed.

Feels a bit disingenuous when more cops died of C19 in 2022 than from gunfire - 60 deaths in 2022 compared with 74 for C19. Also US cops killed almost 1100 people in 2022 - I think they have the better side of the 18-1 ratio here.

(Also taking the first 10 as a sample - 2 were off-duty and 1 was shot by his own colleagues which isn't really "policing is risky", more "free roaming guns are generically risky".)

Re: A Computer Generated Swatting Service Is Causing Havoc Across America

#20
post #2

Is swatting a thing outside of the US? I've never heard of it happening here in the Netherlands. It seems to me that the concept of swatting requires a not-to-competent shoot-first-ask-questions-later police force. If the US police force uniquely has these qualities, it seems prudent to reorganise it.

It does happen outside as well. It also requires good chances the person accused is armed, it's the two sides of the equation that makes it happen more often badly in America.

If the police have much better weapons than the suspect they can go with more care. This with a culture of de-escalation helps to convert swatting into just an annoyance.

It can happen, but that would just mean some lost the from the police

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