cross-posted from: https://infosec.pub/post/47299437

United flight 236 from Newark to Palma de Mallorca on Saturday night was forced to turn around just an hour after takeoff due to security concerns around a Bluetooth signal. Multiple Redditors claimed to be on the flight and reported that the crew repeatedly requested passengers to turn off their Bluetooth. According to one poster, […]

  • Cethin@lemmy.zip
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    15 hours ago

    Honestly, I don’t see any way this could result in criminal charges. It’s a Bluetooth name, not someone actually threatening with a weapon. It’s like walking around with a fake gun. You can’t be charged with anything without actual intent to deceive people, and good luck proving that.

    At most, this is a civil charge. The airline might try to get some money out of this person.

    • quick_snail@feddit.nl
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      8 hours ago

      I think it depends on the color of your skin.

      Many kids with fake guns have been executed for this, because their skin is black

    • kunaltyagi@programming.dev
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      15 hours ago

      Poor chap. Chances are the person was flying economy. No way that person can give enough to recoup even the lawyer fees for the airline

      • Cethin@lemmy.zip
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        15 hours ago

        Yep. They might still try it to punish them/set an example. They’re not getting enough out of it to be worth it though, so odds are nothing happens.

    • Atomic@sh.itjust.works
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      13 hours ago

      It could absolutely result in a criminal charge. If it results in a criminal conviction or not is another question.

      But any prosecutor could make the argument that it’s a terroristic threat.

    • chocrates@piefed.world
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      11 hours ago

      You can still be prosecuted for things you didn’t intend, the laws are usually less harsh. Manslaughter vs Murder for instance. I have no idea if a speaker whose name auto sets to bomb is illegal though. Seems dumb if it were

    • fizzle@quokk.au
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      11 hours ago

      Naming a Bluetooth device “bomb” could absolutely be intentionally disruptive or threatening.

      Im not saying thats provable beyond reasonable doubt in this case.