Bluetooth jammers may seem like a tempting fix for nuisances such as noisy neighbours' speakers or unwanted tracking devices, but using one is almost always illegal, according to Engadget. This is because jammers work by flooding an entire radio frequency band with noise, which does not just block the intended target but disrupts every nearby device relying on that spectrum, including systems critical to public safety and emergency response.

Bluetooth operates on the 2.4 GHz band, shared with Wi-Fi, and jammers swamp this entire range rather than targeting a single connection, meaning even short-range personal devices with a reach of around 50 feet can interfere with Wi-Fi, baby monitors, security systems and medical equipment such as glucose monitors. More seriously, jamming can disrupt police body cameras, emergency dispatch networks and remote access to patient data. In the US, such devices are banned under the Communications Act of 1934 and FCC rules, with similar laws in place internationally under the International Telecommunication Union; because jammers broadcast their own location, users can be tracked down by authorities and face significant fines or jail time.