A father in France is in legal trouble for trying to block his children from surfing the internet and using their cell phones late at night. His well-intentioned move has led to a hefty fine and possible jail time. In an effort to keep his children from being distracted at night, he used a highly effective cell phone signal jammer blocker. However, this not only blocked his own children from surfing the internet, it also affected internet and cellular service in a nearby town.
The whole process of the incident
The French National Frequency Agency (ANFR) received an unusual report of some kind of interference with internet and cellular service in the town of Messanges. Even more bizarrely, this interference occurred every Monday through Friday between midnight and 3 a.m. After investigating, the ANFR determined that it was a radio frequency signal jammer device.
"The ANFR Toulouse regional service therefore began its investigation in the middle of the night... What could have caused such a disturbance when the whole city was asleep?" the report states.
As the investigation progressed, the ANFR discovered a characteristically shaped graph showing the source of the signal from a radio jammer, which is banned in France. After tracking the source of the signal, investigators arrived at a house on the coast and confronted the father. He admitted that he had used a signal jammer to prevent his children from surfing the Internet on their smartphones while they slept.
"His children had indeed become addicted to social networks and other applications, especially since the lockdown due to the Covid-19 pandemic," the ANFR explained in the report.
Although the father's original intention was for the health of his children, the use of signal jammers is illegal in France. He faces a fine of up to $34,000 (€30,000) and six months in prison.
Parents in the United States who are considering using similar technology to block their children from surfing the Internet should also be wary. In the United States, the use of signal jammers is also illegal. If caught, they may face heavy fines and imprisonment.
Summary
The case is still ongoing in France, with the ANFR handing over all its findings to local authorities. However, the father has since lost the signal jammer he was using to block his children from accessing social media sites.
