Russian forces are reportedly jamming US drones over Syria
It’s said to be “seriously affecting” some American operations in the region.
The news: NBC reports that electronic scrambling systems are being used by the Russian military so that small surveillance drones can’t determine their positions using GPS. It’s said to have been happening for several weeks.
Why it matters: These kinds of jamming attacks aren’t particularly complex, but they can prove catastrophic—causing drones to crash in the most extreme cases. The Defense Department didn’t say whether any drones have suffered such a fate in Syria recently.
Plus: Officials tell NBC that the jamming attacks being used by Russia are particularly advanced, capable of interfering with encrypted communication channels. The attacks are also said to be having an “operational impact” in Syria.
Deep Dive
Tech policy
How conservative Facebook groups are changing what books children read in school
Parents are gathering online to review books and lobby schools to ban them, often on the basis of sexual content.
Why can’t tech fix its gender problem?
A new generation of tech activists, organizers, and whistleblowers, most of whom are female, non-white, gender-diverse, or queer, may finally bring change.
How the idea of a “transgender contagion” went viral—and caused untold harm
A single paper on the notion that gender dysphoria can spread among young people helped galvanize an anti-trans movement.
The world is moving closer to a new cold war fought with authoritarian tech
At the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit, Iran, Turkey, and Myanmar promised tighter trade relationships with Russia and China.
Stay connected
Get the latest updates from
MIT Technology Review
Discover special offers, top stories, upcoming events, and more.