Reporting fake high-risk emergency treats could soon have far more serious consequences, as it should. Known as "swatting," this practice could result in five years to life in prison.
Swatting refers to calling in false reports of high-risk emergencies, basically sending law enforcement on a wild-goose chase. Needless to mention, this wastes valuable time and resources that could be properly allocated where they truly are necessary.
Gamers and hackers are well-known to engage in such swatting practices, often calling in hostage situations or other threats at rivals' homes so that armed law enforcement would bust down their doors.
YouTube is full of swatting videos, showing police entering live-streaming gamers' homes in full force after being alerted of some sort of critical emergency. The FBI faces roughly 400 swatting calls per year, resulting in whopping bills of up to $100,000 per incident.
It's not a game, and lawmakers now want to take additional measures to ensure people don't send police down to a rival's home address just to mess with them.
An anti-swatting Bill introduced earlier this week is gaining momentum, aiming to make it harder to call in fake high-risk emergency threats. Pushed by Republicans Patrick Meehan (R-PA) and Katherine Clark (D-Mass), the Interstate Swatting Hoax Act of 2015 (pdf) aims to make it a criminal offense to call in fake emergency threats to police.
Bill I intro'd with @RepKClark updates federal law, makes clear that #swatting is no joke https://t.co/RX3WZS9E5T pic.twitter.com/OulWEPoQ9n
— Patrick Meehan (@RepMeehan) November 18, 2015
If no injury occurs as a result of swatting, perpetrators could face fines and/or up to five years in prison. If the hoax call has more serious consequences, harsher penalties will be applied. Perpetrators will face up to 20 years of jail time, fines, or both, if the hoax resulted in serious bodily injury, or life in prison of the swatting hoax results in the death of someone. Civil penalties could be in the mix as well.
"Perpetrators of these hoaxes purposefully use our emergency responders to harm their victims," Clark explains in a statement.
"The wave of 'swatting' incidents are costing our police departments time and tax dollars. 'Swatting' cases divert attention from serious situations that require the attention of highly trained personnel and puts innocent civilians at risk. The legislation updates federal statute and makes it clear that 'swatting' is no joke," added Meehan.
In addition to the high costs involved, swatting incidents have also caused injuries to law enforcement officers, as well as heart attacks and serious injury to victims. Should this bill pass, individuals who engage in swatting will have to face the serious consequences they deserve.
