swatting
A form of harassment that exploits emergency reporting systems: the perpetrator falsely reports to police that a serious violent crime is occurring at the target's address, inducing a heavily armed SWAT team to raid that address.
Timeline (last 90 days)
In law enforcement scenarios, doxxing can escalate into physical threat tactics such as "swatting" (falsely reporting an emergency to lure SWAT teams to a target's home).
Swatting is a harassment tactic that exploits the emergency reporting system: the perpetrator falsely reports to police that a serious violent crime such as an armed hostage taking or a bomb threat is occurring at the target address, luring a fully armed SWAT team to raid that address.
Swatting originated in the early hacker scene as a prank against online gaming opponents, and was later used by extremists to intimidate public figures, journalists, and minority communities.
Because SWAT deployment prioritizes the use of force, targets may be injured or even killed in the chaos, so many US states have explicitly criminalized swatting and increased penalties.
All Facts (4)
In law enforcement scenarios, doxxing can escalate into physical threat tactics such as "swatting" (falsely reporting an emergency to lure SWAT teams to a target's home).
50%UnverifiedSwatting is a harassment tactic that exploits the emergency reporting system: the perpetrator falsely reports to police that a serious violent crime such as an armed hostage taking or a bomb threat is occurring at the target address, luring a fully armed SWAT team to raid that address.
50%UnverifiedSwatting originated in the early hacker scene as a prank against online gaming opponents, and was later used by extremists to intimidate public figures, journalists, and minority communities.
50%UnverifiedBecause SWAT deployment prioritizes the use of force, targets may be injured or even killed in the chaos, so many US states have explicitly criminalized swatting and increased penalties.
50%