Post by @cstross@wandering.shop

While this *might* be relatively innocent tinfoil-hattery, it could also be an amazingly cost-effective example of asymmetric warfare (target the most gullible minds with a conspiracy theory that gives them an incentive to vandalize transport infrastructure):

Pensioners attack Devon traffic lights over wild 'deadly weapon' claims

An online movement say that the sensors on traffic lights can cause heart attacks, brain cancer, anxiety and even sudden death

https://www.devonlive.com/news/devon-news/pensioners-attack-devon-traffic-lights-11148748

Devon Live

Pensioners attack Devon traffic lights over wild 'deadly weapon' claims

An online movement say that the sensors on traffic lights can cause heart attacks, brain cancer, anxiety and even sudden death

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@nblr@chaos.social 11 hr. ago

@cstross “the medical and technological claims made by the group have not been independently established” is a rather weak phrasing for saying “utter poppycock”

Steve

@steevc@mastodon.org.uk 11 hr. ago

@cstross Wrecking traffic lights is more likely to kill people than the sensors they worry about. We had the nonsense with 5G towers before. The anti-science brigade are a menace, but some actually have political power these days.

Charlie Stross

@cstross@wandering.shop 11 hr. ago

@steevc I was thinking more in terms of a deliberate ams-length sabotage campaign orchestrated by the GRU as part of the ongoing Russian hybrid warfare campaign against NATO. (See also: Leipzig, explosive drones, assassination attempts, arms depots mysteriously catching fire, etc.)

Ilfracombe is obviously not a useful target but if this movement was to catch on and hit junctions in major cities and ports/airports it could be very damaging.