USA: Political Intimidation by "Swatting" Often Includes Gender Violence Threats
Monday, January 22, 2024
The increasing US phenomenon of "swatting" -- i.e. making a false emergency call to generate an armed police response to a home or other location -- is often used as a political threat to opponents. Recent targets have included politicians, judges, other elected officials and celebrities. But it also often includes a threat of gender violence, such as killing women, killing a target's wife, etc.
Compiled from: Scott Tang, Shirley Jahad and Grace Griffin, "Swatting generates fear and intimidation. It can also destabilize democracy," NPR/WBUR, Jan. 22, 2024.
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