A Bluetooth jammer might seem like a fix for a neighbor's loud music, but using one can lead to serious legal consequences far beyond simple noise control.

Jamming signals won't just silence your noisy neighbor. It can also interfere with critical infrastructure and emergency services, too. Bluetooth jammers are just one of many types of radio jammer, all of which are designed to obfuscate different signals. There are jammers for GPS, radar, Wi-Fi, cellular signals and even drones, all of which work on the same basic principle: broadcasting large amounts of radio noise that drowns out anything else.

The usage of any jammers, Bluetooth included, is illegal in most countries, with minimal exceptions like military applications. In the United States, it is outlawed in the Communications Act of 1934 and further solidified by Federal Communications Commission (FCC) rules. Many other countries have similar legislation, with the International Telecommunication Union, a United Nations agency, outlining several articles for all member countries regarding radio wave interference. With a myriad of devices running across the 2.4 GHz band, the usage of a jammer affects anything nearby.

Not only is it forbidden to use jammers, but their use can be traced due to the fact they broadcast their own location. Through a combination of spectrum analysis tools and direction-finding equipment, law enforcement can track you down, and the consequences will be much more than a slap on the wrist. The Department of Homeland Security encourages citizens to report any suspected jamming, and those found guilty of utilizing signal jammers of any kind can face significant fines and even jail time.