"GPS jamming is often considered illegal. In the US, it is illegal to buy or sell a GPS jamming device, especially when used in a way that interrupts or affects civilian life."
GPS jamming. It’s a term we’ve been hearing a lot more often lately, and it’s turning a once abstract concept into a tangible part of our modern world.
GPS jamming is the disruption of signals from satellites to GPS devices (think cellphones, smartwatches, and other navigation/communication technology), and while it’s becoming far more common, many of us are unaware of how it works and what implications it might have on our lives.
In fact, most people are unaware that jamming technology is often illegal, and using it could have legal and moral consequences.
Below, we explore how GPS jamming can threaten everything from public safety to national security, as well as what consequences exist for those caught using it illegally.
The Ins and Outs of GPS Jamming
GPS jamming describes the interruption of Radio Frequency (RF) signals sent from GPS satellites to receivers on the ground and is used for a variety of reasons - some of which are legitimate and some of which are not.
One thing to remember is that not all jamming is intentional, nor is it always used for nefarious purposes. While it can be difficult to pinpoint whether or not GPS jamming is intentional or done by accident, each instance still results in the same degradation or limitations.
How does it work?
GPS jamming is carried out by emitting radio signals on the same frequencies as a legitimate GPS signal, only at a higher power. Regardless of whether the signal jamming is intentional or not, each instance leads to inadequate reception by the receiver and degrades or kills the quality of the signal received for communication and/or navigation purposes.
So now that we understand the basic premise of jamming, let's take a look at one of the most common questions involving GPS jamming.
Is GPS Jamming Legal?
GPS jamming is most often considered illegal. In the US, it is illegal to buy or sell a GPS jamming device, especially when used in a way that interrupts or affects civilian life.
Still, GPS jammers can be easily purchased online, and simply owning a device may not carry too severe of consequences. When used for illegal or nefarious purposes, however, the consequences could be severe.
Before we get into that, though, let’s take a look at some examples of legitimate and illegitimate uses of GPS jamming.
Legitimate vs. Illegitimate Uses of Jamming
Legitimate Uses: Military, Research, and Testing
As stated above, GPS jamming is generally considered illegal, but there are some legitimate uses for the practice. Here are a few examples.
Military Operations: In combat zones, military forces often use GPS jamming as a warfare tactic to protect military assets from enemies - particularly by preventing the exploitation of GPS navigation for weapons guidance, targeting, and more. As a note, GPS jamming is very common in combat zones, and you can see just how common it is with this GPS jamming map HERE.
Research and Testing: Seeing as though GPS jamming can be considered both a weapon and a threat, it is important for militaries to test technologies that can help combat the tactic. If a military wanted to test new types of GPS anti-jamming technologies, they would likely need to simulate jamming in a localized area. Still, most of this testing is done in controlled areas, so more often than not, there isn’t much public risk involved.
Illegitimate Uses: Criminal activity, Terrorism, and Disruptive Behavior
Aside from the few legitimate reasons listed above, it is actually more common for GPS jamming to be illegitimate. Here are a few examples of illegitimate uses.
Criminal Activity: Criminal organizations like cartels use GPS jammers for all sorts of reasons, including trafficking, evading law enforcement, and heist-like operations.
Terrorism: Terrorist groups also use GPS jamming to disrupt critical infrastructure, delay information relays, or hinder emergency response following an attack.
Legal Aspects of GPS Jamming
Now that we’ve explored some of the why and how GPS jamming occurs, let’s take a closer look at the legal aspects of everything.
Laws Governing GPS Jamming
On a global scale, GPS jamming is pretty heavily regulated, mostly because of the potential for severe disruptions to critical infrastructure.
In the United States: In the US, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is responsible for enforcing the rules and regulations (which are quite strict) involving the unauthorized use of GPS jammers and the interference they cause. The FCC administers the Communications Act of 1934 - which prohibits the use of any technology that causes harmful interference with radio communications. GPS jammers are considered one of these technologies, and any entity or individual caught using them without authorization is subject to harsh fines and, in some cases, imprisonment.
In the European Union: The situation in the EU is pretty similar to the US. The European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI) outlines permitted spectrum usage, which ensures that radio frequencies, including those used for GNSS systems, are not interrupted. Any violation of these guidelines can lead to fines and/or criminal charges, which vary depending on the situation and severity.
Regardless of the international agreements and laws, GPS jamming enforcement is still a challenge - particularly in states, countries, and regions where jammers are easily purchased or where local law enforcement is ill-equipped to track down offenders (GPS jamming detection can be costly).
Legal Penalties for GPS Jamming
Using GPS jammers intentionally and under unauthorized conditions can result in some pretty severe consequences. Simply put, GPS interference can threaten everything from navigation, public safety, and even national security, and when carried out by those without a strong understanding of the implications, it can turn out badly.
In the United States: In the US, the penalty for using a GPS jammer can vary but can result in significant fines. Here are a few examples of how the FCC has enforced these instances.
2016: FCC imposes a fine of $34,912,500 to a Chinese electronics manufacturer for marketing jamming devices in the US.
2013: FCC imposes a fine of $32,000 to an individual who used a GPS jammer near the Newark Airport in New Jersey - which resulted in GPS disruptions that threatened the safety of commercial airlines.
2013: FCC imposes fines on two companies using GPS jammers at their worksites. One fine was set at $144,000, and the other was set at $125,000.
In the European Union: In the EU, anyone caught using GPS jammers can face legal consequences - each of which can vary by the severity of the instance and the country it was in. In the UK, for example, violators can face fines and/or jail time.
International Regulations
Outside of specific countries or regions, there are some international regulations for GPS jamming and similar.
International bodies like the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) are largely responsible for regulating the use of RF interference and jamming technologies. In short, this regulatory body ensures that the GPS frequencies used are not going to interfere with standard GPS signals.
Still, the enforcement of international regulations is difficult - mostly due to the cross-border nature of GPS jamming. Jammers can be purchased online and shipped globally and can even be assembled illegally with commercially available components. In these cases, the waters get muddied quite a bit, as it is difficult and costly to track and trace components, devices, and how or why they are used.
If international regulation is involved, it likely signifies a larger implication - like terrorism or trafficking.
Exceptions and Permitted Uses
While GPS jamming is often considered illegal and illegitimate, there are some exceptions. Here are a couple of examples.
Military Operations: Military operations are one area seen as legitimate. GPS jamming is commonly used as a warfare tactic that is used to protect people and assets. Most often, these instances involve government agency oversight, so when used, there is limited risk to the general public.
Scientific and Technical Research: Research is another area where GPS jamming can be useful - especially research on technology. A big trend today is the development of GPS-denied navigation for drones and UAVs - which describes a technology that can navigate without the use of active GPS. Since these technologies need to function under those conditions, researchers typically jam GPS signals when testing developments.
Ethical Considerations of GPS Jamming
GPS jamming has a range of implications, and the ethical considerations should not be overlooked - most of which involve national security, public safety, and personal privacy concerns.
Impact on Public Safety
There are some pretty severe implications that GPS jamming can have on public safety. GPS systems are a dynamic and integral part of aviation, maritime operations, emergency services, and even finance, so disruptions could lead to safety risks, delayed or unresponsive emergency services, or even the loss of life.
Consider the situation where a cargo vessel is operating offshore somewhere in the Black Sea - a hotspot for GPS jamming over the last couple of years.
If that ship had a fire break out and required emergency services, but the GPS signal wasn’t available due to interference, emergency response crews may have a more difficult time locating the vessel - which could lead to much longer response times.
Safety vs. Risk
This is an ethical dilemma that doesn’t have a straightforward answer. When GPS jamming is used for surveillance involving national security or public safety, it may also have implications for the public.
In some cases, governments, militaries, or law enforcement agencies use GPS jamming to protect vulnerable assets or operations but it could be considered harmful or risky to the public.
If law enforcement jams GPS signals in a civilian area, for example, it could cause concerns over navigation, emergency response, or communications. If the jamming is carried out to prevent a bigger threat - a terrorist attack, for example - then it could be argued that the risks to the public are justified.
Still, the ethical dilemma stands, so it remains a point of interest.
Corporate and Personal Accountability
Individuals, entities, or corporations using GPS jammers also hold some accountability for ethical responsibility.
If a business uses a jammer to gain a competitive advantage, say by disrupting competitor communication or navigation systems, there would surely be a question of ethics involved. This is especially true if the instance(s) led to financial loss, reputational damage, or legal consequences.
Individuals using jammers, on the other hand, also pose ethical questions. Even if an individual is using a GPS jammer for something seen as “harmless” by the user, like preventing personal tracking on a work truck, the jamming may affect other civilians, especially in urban settings.
When this happens, it is rare that the ethical argument will lean in favor of the user.
Regulatory Frameworks and Enforcement
While necessary, regulatory frameworks can be hard to enforce, and when jamming occurs on an international scale, it can be even harder to know which framework or enforcement agency is needed.
Government Agencies and Their Role In Regulating GPS Jamming
Government agencies and regulatory bodies, like the FCC in the US and the ETSI in Europe, play pivotal roles in regulating the use of GPS jamming devices - ultimately enhancing public safety and security.
These agencies, which are many, are tasked with enforcing laws and developing new and evolving regulations to address new and emerging threats.
They often partner with local, regional, or international law enforcement agencies to identify significant or high-threat GPS jamming sources and may even support the agencies in imposing penalties on jamming offenders.
How are illegal jamming occurrences identified and monitored?
There are numerous methods for detection, including GPS signal monitoring from satellites and/or terrestrial ground stations, optical imagery, and other open-source information that can help corroborate or refute data seen from technological assets.
Spire Global, for example, helps businesses identify GPS interference using ADS-B data from commercial aircraft. Since Spire and similar space companies are private, their data and services can be purchased by governments and regulatory agencies to help unearth jamming around the globe.
Hawkeye 360 is another player in the space industry with GPS interference detection capabilities - which have been tested and proven successful throughout the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
Unseen Labs, which focuses heavily on the maritime domain, is known in the industry as a leader in detecting, characterizing, and geolocating the source of GPS jamming signals. It uses its privately owned and operated constellation to provide affordability and flexibility to its customers.
Challenges in Enforcement
We mentioned it earlier - it can be really difficult to enforce GPS jamming laws, especially when it involves international regulations.
What makes it even more challenging is the rise of commercially available jamming devices that can be purchased online. Considering there is a relatively high level of anonymity for online sales, it can be hard to track down buyers of jamming devices or their components.
Further, since most jamming devices are “mobile,” it can be even harder to track the source of the signal - particularly while it’s moving (while it’s being used in a car, for example).
Mitigating the Risks of GPS Jamming
As a growing threat, GPS jamming presents significant risks to critical systems and public safety, so mitigating the impacts of this evolving challenge is important.
While this has been historically challenging, new technologies and strategies exist that help detect, prevent, and counteract GPS jamming.
Government and Industry Collaboration
Often, regardless of the tool used as a solution, cooperation between governments, private companies, and international regulatory agencies is needed to make a tangible impact. Since GNSS systems (GPS specifically) are global in nature, one instance or occurrence can have cross-border effects for all sorts of individuals, businesses, and critical infrastructure.
Type of Solutions
There are several relatively new technologies that are useful in protecting against GPS jamming.
Satellite-Based Geolocation: One method for mitigating GPS jamming involves satellite-based geolocation of RF-emitting jammers. When working with a big commercial space service like Spire Global or Hawkeye 360, customers can task a network of satellites to geolocate the source of interference and take action. By accessing satellite constellations with dozens or even hundreds of satellites in LEO, global coverage is possible, and geolocation can happen in a matter of minutes.
Anti-Jamming Devices: Anti-jamming devices are being developed consistently to combat the evolving threat of GPS jamming. Mainly developed and used by governments and militaries, anti-jamming devices often work to filter out unwanted RF signals and ensure legitimate GPS connectivity. Jamming domes can be placed over a receiver to limit the frequencies that can be received, while techniques like frequency hopping can help stop a receiver from latching onto a GPS jamming signal.
Signal Encryption: Singal encryption also provides a layer of security to GPS systems. By encrypting legitimate GPS signals, it becomes harder for bad actors to project interference. Singal encryption can be useful against GPS jamming and GPS spoofing, so it has warranted new research and development over the years.