swatting
/ˈswɒtɪŋ/
Definition
The act of making a false report of a serious crime or emergency to emergency services, such as a bomb threat, with the malicious intent of drawing a heavy police or SWAT team response to a target's location.
Etymology
The term is a modern compound derived from the acronym 'SWAT' (Special Weapons and Tactics), the police units traditionally deployed for high-risk emergencies. It entered popular usage in the early 2000s to describe the misuse of these specific tactical police units for harassment.
In the news
The article lists swatting as one of the aggressive digital tactics used by the CCP to intimidate and harass diaspora communities in Canada. It is cited as a component of a larger 'Spamouflage' disinformation campaign aimed at silencing activists.
Open Letter | Canadian Coalition on Human Rights in China to Minister of Foreign Affairs Anita Anand : On the Occasion of Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi's Visit to Canada - Raoul Wallenberg Centre
Read the full article ↗Raoul Wallenberg Centre