A French father is in trouble with the law after using a signal jammer to keep his kids off the internet and their phones at night. Although the plan worked, it came with consequences that he didn’t anticipate. His signal jammer was so powerful that it affected not just his kids, but also the internet and cell phone usage in a nearby town.
The ANFR originally received a report about an unusual interruption of service in the town of Messanges. Investigators discovered that the interference happened every weeknight, and determined that it was caused by a wave jammer – a device that is illegal to use in France.
The agency traced the signal and found the source to be a house near the coast, where the father admitted to using the jammer to prevent his teenagers from staying up late on their phones. While his intentions were good, the father’s actions had significant consequences.
Using a signal jammer is illegal and can cause major issues beyond just disrupting your kids’ internet and cell phone usage. It’s important to find other ways to limit screen time and ensure that everyone is getting enough rest.
According to a report by ANFR, the father had used a signal jamming device in an attempt to limit his children’s use of social media and other applications amidst the Covid-19 confinement. The children had become addicted to these online platforms, and as a concerned parent, he sought to limit their usage. However, the use of such a device is illegal in France, and as a result, the father is facing a penalty of up to $34,000 and six months in jail, despite having no intention of keeping the entire town off the internet. The incident highlights the growing issue of technology addiction and the challenges parents face in managing their children’s screen time while respecting the law. Moving forward, it is important to find a balance between technology usage and healthy habits, while also ensuring that laws regarding signal jamming are followed.
It is important for parents to monitor their children’s internet activity, especially when it comes to social media sites. However, using signal jammers to restrict access to these sites is not a legal or effective solution. This is true not only in France, where a father was recently fined for using a jammer, but also in the United States where such devices are prohibited and can result in hefty fines and imprisonment.
The ongoing case in France has brought attention to the dangers and consequences of using signal jammers. The French regulatory agency, ANFR, has completed their investigation and turned over their findings to local authorities. While the father in question may no longer have his jammer to control his children’s online activity, it is important for all parents to know that this is not the solution to keeping their kids safe online.
Instead, parents should take a more proactive approach to monitoring their children’s internet activity. This can include using parental control software, setting up guidelines for internet use, and talking to their children about safe online practices. By staying informed and engaged, parents can help their children navigate the online world safely and responsibly, without resorting to illegal and ineffective tactics like signal jammers.