The National Children’s Commissioner is looking into a call to ban an anti-loitering device used in shopping centres.
Taylor Street Community Legal Service (QLD) made a complaint to the Commissioner, claiming that the device known as a “mosquito device” is a “discriminatory and harmful practice targeting people under the age of 25 years through sonic assault”.
The “mosquito” device broadcasts a high frequency noise that is claimed it can only be heard by people 25 years or younger, causing discomfort to ears sensitive enough to hear it.
A shopping centre in the Fraser Coast, QLD installed a “mosquito device” about 10 years ago to stop young people from sitting out the front of the centre’s entrance. About two years ago, a young person who worked at the shopping centre claimed the device was causing persistent headaches and discomfort. The centre got rid of the gadget in April.
Taylor Street Community Legal Service solicitor Melissa Seymour-Dearness said, “People who most hear it are young people and the most vulnerable are babies who have the most sensitive hearing and there was no sign or indication at all for mothers that the device was in use. This device is in breach of the Anti-Discrimination Act, possibly criminal assault, and investigations are on-going as to whether this is a dangerous good.”
People wearing hearing aids and assistance dogs could also be affected.
The prevalence of this device in Australia is unclear. If you have any information on this issue, you can contact the National Children’s Commissioner via Megan Lee, 02 9284 9868, meagan.lee@humanrights.gov.au