During recent protests in Belgrade, Serbia, demonstrators accused authorities of using sonic weapons to disperse crowds.
- Serbian officials have denied these allegations.
- Sonic weapons, such as Long-Range Acoustic Devices (LRAD), are non-lethal tools that emit extremely loud sounds to control crowds.
What Are Sonic Weapons?
- Sonic weapons, also known as sound cannons or LRADs, are devices that fire sound waves instead of bullets.
- They are considered non-lethal and are used for crowd control or communication over long distances.
- Unlike regular sound waves, which weaken with distance, sonic weapons can project loud noises up to 1 kilometer away.
- While sound amplifiers have existed for centuries, their use for crowd control began in the early 1990s. The US military first used specialized sonic devices in Iraq in 2004.
How Do Sonic Weapons Work?
- Sonic weapons typically use hundreds of transducers—electronic devices that convert energy from one form to another—to create highly concentrated and amplified sound.
- The sound is directed in a narrow beam, allowing it to target specific areas.
- Police officers can control the frequency, level, quality, and duration of the sound, making it a versatile tool for crowd dispersal.
Types of Sonic Weapons
- Long-Range Acoustic Device (LRAD):
- Range: Up to 8,900 meters for intelligible speech.
- Sound Level: Can reach up to 160 decibels (dB)—louder than a jet engine (130-140 dB) or a gunshot (150 dB).
- Effects: Causes pain at levels above 140 dB and can lead to permanent hearing damage even at 120 dB.
- Mosquito:
- Target Audience: Affects only younger people (teenagers and those in their twenties).
- Sound: Emits high-pitched sounds that are painful to younger ears but inaudible to older adults (30+).
- Purpose: Often used to deter loitering or gatherings of young people.
- Infrasonic Weapon:
- Sound Frequency: Emits very low-frequency sounds that are inaudible but can cause pain and disorientation.
- Status: Still under investigation, with limited evidence of its weaponization.
Health Effects of Sonic Weapons
- Sonic weapons can cause significant harm, including:
Use of Sonic Weapons under International Law:
- International law does not explicitly regulate sonic weapons, but their use may fall under broader principles governing armed conflict and human rights:
- U.N. Charter: The UN Charter prohibits the use of force unless justified by self-defense or authorized by the Security Council. Sonic weapons could be considered a “use of force” if their effects are comparable to traditional armed attacks.
- Geneva Conventions & Additional Protocols: Weapons that cause unnecessary suffering or indiscriminate harm are prohibited. If sonic weapons lead to excessive pain or permanent disability, they could be considered a violation.
- Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons (CCW): While there is no specific ban on sonic weapons, the CCW prohibits weapons that cause superfluous injury or have indiscriminate effects. If sonic weapons meet these criteria, they could be restricted.
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- Hearing Damage: Permanent hearing loss or tinnitus (ringing in the ears).
- Physical Symptoms: Headaches, nausea, sweating, vertigo, and loss of balance.
- Severe Injuries: Vomiting, mucus, or blood from the ears in extreme cases.
Ethical and Legal Concerns
- Human rights organizations, such as Physicians for Human Rights (PHR), argue that sonic weapons are indiscriminate and can harm protesters, bystanders, and law enforcement alike.
- There is also limited research on their long-term effects, raising concerns about their use in crowd control.
20 Mar 2025
