We are witnessing the increasing surveillance of people with the help of security cameras. Cameras are devices that can serve as an invisible prison that will watch us at every step. Allegedly, this may be a tool of the world elite to introduce 15-minute cities and limit our movement. Cameras that can recognize faces are multiplying and everyone has probably heard of the credit system in China, where cameras follow you practically everywhere and even for small offenses they lower your social score. Along with the increasing number of cameras, people are finding ways to effectively destroy them.
Can a laser destroy a camera?
In the UK and other parts of the world, cameras are often destroyed with the help of cordless saws and grinders. They simply cut the entire pole with the camera or use a telescopic pole with garden shears and cut the camera off. An increasingly popular way to destroy security cameras is with lasers. They are a potentially quick way to effortlessly destroy a camera by pointing a laser at it. A laser can potentially damage or destroy a camera, especially its image sensor. This depends on several factors, such as the type of camera, the power and wavelength of the laser, the distance, the angle of incidence, and the exposure time.
Damage Mechanism
Cameras use sensors such as CMOS or CCD to capture images. These sensors are sensitive to light and energy, making them vulnerable to intense radiation such as a laser beam. If the beam is too strong, it can overheat or permanently damage individual pixels on the sensor. In extreme cases, it can cause irreversible damage to the entire sensor.
Factors Affecting the Effect
- Laser Power: High-power lasers have a greater ability to cause damage. However, low power may not be enough to significantly affect the camera. Lasers with a power of over 100mW have the greatest effect, while high-power lasers with a power of over 1000mW (1W) have a destructive effect. Since the purchase price of these lasers is very low, almost anyone can buy them on the Internet.
- Wavelength: Some cameras are more sensitive to specific wavelengths. Infrared lasers, for example, can be more effective against cameras that have IR sensors.
- Distance: The intensity of the laser beam decreases with distance. Therefore, close focusing is more effective.
- Duration of exposure: Prolonged exposure of the sensor to the laser increases the likelihood of damage.
Below you can see a video that shows how lasers of different powers can destroy cameras:
Practical consequences
While lasers can be used to protect privacy and neutralize surveillance devices, intentionally destroying cameras with lasers can be illegal. Such conduct could be classified as vandalism or security breach. The information in this article is for educational purposes only, please consider this article as a source of interest only, not as a guide or encouragement to destroy other people’s property.
How did Hong Kong protesters use lasers?
Protesters in Hong Kong used lasers as a creative and practical tool to achieve several goals during the 2019 protests. Lasers proved to be an effective tool in a situation where protesters were faced with advanced surveillance technology and repressive measures.
Distraction and Dazzling
One of the main uses of lasers was to dazzle cameras, drones, and police officers. The intense laser beams were able to momentarily blind cameras and make it difficult to identify protesters who were trying to protect their anonymity. Lasers were also aimed at police officers to disrupt their vision and make it difficult for them to react during interventions.
Neutralizing surveillance devices
Advanced facial recognition technology was used in Hong Kong to monitor protesters. Protesters used lasers to prevent cameras from capturing their faces, thereby minimizing the risk of prosecution and repression. Lasers interfered with image capture by overheating camera sensors or creating dazzling light effects that made it impossible to clearly capture faces.
Signaling and coordination tool
Lasers also served as a communication tool. Protesters used lasers to coordinate movement in the crowd, for example to mark police forces or places where they needed to form up. The multi-colored lasers were visible from long distances and acted as visual signals.
Warning: Never point a laser at cameras, as you could damage or permanently destroy them. Also, never point the laser at anyone, even brief exposure to the laser beam can blind a person or permanently damage their eyesight. Powerful lasers can also set property on fire with their beam, so do not point the laser at anything that could catch fire.
Photo: Collage – Pixabay.com + screenshot (youtu.be/I9ig4HaXnsU)
