People at Villanova University were shocked during a new student orientation mass when they received a campus-wide alert about an active shooter. Fear ran high until police arrived quickly, only to discover it was a “cruel hoax,” as the university president put it.
This type of incident, known as “swatting,” involves making false emergency calls to provoke a large police response. That same day, the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga faced similar alarming reports. Thankfully, neither location had a real threat.
Swatting has become more common since it first made headlines in 2008. The FBI described it as a new phenomenon back then, but it has now gained a troubling foothold in our society. Gregory Winger, a political science professor at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, notes that it began in online gaming and has now extended to public figures and even lawmakers.
The consequences of swatting are severe. Communities face trauma, and law enforcement resources are stretched thin. In 2023, over 100 swatting threats targeted more than 1,000 institutions across the U.S., including synagogues and schools. Interestingly, data from the Educator’s School Safety Network showed swatting incidents in schools made up almost 30% of all violent threats tracked during the 2023-24 academic year.
Incidents have resulted in real tragedies. A man in Tennessee died from a heart attack during a swatting event where he was falsely accused of murder. The chaotic, life-threatening nature of these calls can lead to lasting psychological effects on victims, according to Daniel Flannery, a professor at Case Western Reserve University.
To combat swatting, experts stress the need for stricter prosecution to deter offenders. The Justice Department has started to take this seriously, charging many individuals involved in swatting incidents, including those who operate “swattering-for-hire” services.
Enhancing training for emergency response teams and raising public awareness are also crucial steps in addressing this growing issue. As communities grapple with the fear and disruption these incidents cause, it’s clear that swatting is not just a prank; it’s a serious crime that requires decisive action.
For more insights into swatting and its impacts, you can refer to PolitiFact’s analysis here.
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