Sonic Weapons and Their Use in Protests

Serbia’s President Aleksandar Vucic has refuted claims that the police used a banned sonic weapon to disperse protesters in Belgrade. Despite allegations, he stated that the characteristic piercing sound of such weapons was not present during the protests.

Overview of Sonic Weapons

Sonic weapons or acoustic weapons are devices designed to emit extremely loud sounds over long distances, potentially causing pain or discomfort. Initially purposed for crowd control, their use has been documented as far back as the early 1990s, with significant military adoption in 2004 by the United States in Iraq.

Functionality of Sonic Weapons

These devices utilize numerous transducers to generate concentrated sound beams, controllable in frequency, level, and duration, thus allowing targeted sound application.

Types of Sonic Weapons

• Long-range acoustic device (LRAD):
  • Manufactured by Genasys Inc, formerly LRAD Corporation.
  • Capable of projecting sound up to 8,900 meters with levels reaching 160 decibels.
  • Sound levels above 140 dB can cause pain; levels above 120 dB can permanently damage hearing.
• Mosquito:
  • Emits high-pitched sounds, painful to younger people (teens to twenties) but generally inaudible to those over 30 due to age-related hearing decline.
• Infrasonic weapon:
  • New technology emitting low-frequency sounds, potentially causing discomfort without being audible.
  • Considered difficult to weaponize effectively.

Health Effects of Sonic Weapons

The use of sonic weapons can significantly harm the eardrums and hearing. While earplugs may reduce exposure by 20–30 dB, this might be insufficient to prevent injury. The severity of impact depends on factors like exposure distance, duration, and personal health conditions.

• Symptoms include tinnitus (ringing ears), headaches, nausea, vertigo, and loss of balance.
• Severe exposure can lead to vomiting and ear bleeding.

Human rights organizations have raised concerns due to the indiscriminate nature of these weapons, which can affect protesters, bystanders, and law enforcement alike.