Terror threat prompts prisons' console bans

by Ross Miller { Sep 10th 2007 at 2:55PM }

It looks like British prisoners will not be playing Heavenly Sword this Friday. According to UK tabloid The Sun, Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and Nintendo DS have all been banned from jail due to their abilities to to "send and receive radio signals" ~~(the signals aren't radio waves, but we're not going to picky over terminology)~~.

The concern is that the messaging capabilities will allow those on the inside to plan terror attacks. Said one source to the tabloid, "The technology in the new generation of computer games makes them a security risk ... There is concern that top terror suspects have been using systems already in jails. Radio software is an integral part of the equipment."

The ban could later spread to all consoles.

[Via Next-Gen]

Update: "Terrot" is a portmanteaux of "terror" and "tarot," meaning that this threat is prompted by a violent soothsayer. However, it was not our intention of granting terrorists clairvoyance, so we have changed the headline accordingly.

Tags: ban, jail, prison, terror

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)

Erwos @ Sep 10th 2007 2:59PM

WiFi doesn't use radio waves? That's news to me.

Night Elve @ Sep 10th 2007 3:02PM

(the signals aren't radio waves, but we're not going to picky over terminology).

Crono @ Sep 10th 2007 3:17PM

(Actually, Wi-Fi is radio, its just a different spectrum than AM and FM)

samrum @ Sep 10th 2007 3:20PM

Wifi signals are radio waves, though.

hvnlysoldr @ Sep 10th 2007 3:28PM

(Parentheses makes this technical.)

vidGuy @ Sep 10th 2007 3:28PM

The signals are radio waves and are more properly known on the UHF band.

Fullmetal Salchemist @ Sep 10th 2007 3:00PM

Ooh, two typos in one post?

Fernando Rocker (NDF - Water Ring) @ Sep 10th 2007 3:02PM

The Wii also can send "radio frecuencies", but they don't banned the Wii cause its very difficult for the prisoners family to find a Wii and buy one.

The Boo @ Sep 10th 2007 3:06PM

Maybe those terrorists just haven't cracked the friend codes yet.

aristokrat @ Sep 10th 2007 3:07PM

Or maybe they've deemed the difficulty of the Wii's friend codes to be an effective anti-terrorist measure.

The Boo @ Sep 10th 2007 3:13PM

@Aristokrat

Beat ya.

aristokrat @ Sep 10th 2007 3:46PM

It was too easy a joke. =]

The Boo @ Sep 10th 2007 5:57PM

Agreed!

Hitachi Wasabe @ Sep 10th 2007 5:06PM

Is it just me that -- independent of whether or not there's a risk -- people in prison shouldn't get perks like playing video games?

Adv2k1 @ Sep 10th 2007 3:03PM

so wii is ok? Even though the wiimote can easily made into a dildo, and nunchuck can literally become a choking device.

banning wii makes total sense in jail.
hell why do they even get videogames in jail makes no sense to me.

Jerk Face @ Sep 10th 2007 3:16PM

I'm still trying to find out why the Wiimote working like a dildo is an issue.

Mr Khan @ Sep 10th 2007 5:07PM

Also no PSP

very selective bannage

Calviin @ Sep 11th 2007 10:10AM

Perhaps the consoles you mention were not allowed to begin with, and the 360, PS3 and DS are just additions to the list.

The Boo @ Sep 10th 2007 3:04PM

Yes, and what about this Terrot you speak of? I'm assuming its a terrier/parrot hybrid and myself am interested in acquiring one of these atrocities to nature. On a side note, ITS F'ING PRISON! IF THEY HAD THOSE IN AMERICAN PRISONS THERE WOULD BE 10x MORE SHANKING!

hvnlyspamr @ Sep 10th 2007 3:29PM

Leave my parrot out of this.

The Boo @ Sep 10th 2007 5:59PM

I have a terrier here that is looking for somewhere to bury his bone. Might that be a lady parrot?

hvnlysoldr @ Sep 10th 2007 6:05PM

How can you tell?

vidGuy @ Sep 10th 2007 3:10PM

I'd like to see Sherrif Arpaio's reaction to video games in prison. I mean he DID start S.T.A.R.S., but he also makes inmates wear pink underwear and sleep out in tents in the desert heat. Oddly, there's been no evidence that such get-tough-on-inmate actions prevents them from committing more crimes... maybe if they were forced to play a Superman 64 for 12 hours a day in prison they'd be good little boys from then on!

GuitarBurst05 @ Sep 10th 2007 3:11PM

...BUS

aristokrat @ Sep 10th 2007 3:10PM

Man, that wouldn't be too bad a sentence for some people: you are going to prison for 4 years, but you can have the latest consoles with all the latest games.

That doesn't sound that different from some days I've spent on the couch, and I know there are others much more devoted to games than myself. I could see the arguments with the parents: "Well fine. If I can't play games at home, I'll go get myself arrested. Take that!"

Exo @ Sep 10th 2007 3:14PM

well at home theres a comfort of knowing your asshole wont be torn in the shower

The Boo @ Sep 10th 2007 3:18PM

I would commit just enough murder to get life. Hell, I'd even pick up trash once a week on the side of the road for free ticket to easy living.

JL @ Sep 10th 2007 3:14PM

no shit. ban video game systems from the prison system. this is stupid. make them read books!

aristokrat @ Sep 10th 2007 3:47PM

Yeah, only real art is allowed in prisons.

bean @ Sep 10th 2007 3:15PM

I have an idea: cancel their xbox live accounts and turn off their fucking internet...

Neebs @ Sep 10th 2007 4:34PM

Wi-Fi goes through walls, they can get through.

umm....hello??? @ Sep 10th 2007 3:15PM

I thought going to prison was supposed to be a punishment?? sure sounds like a lot of sweet rewarding going on for being a criminal.

Kye (NDF - Earth Ring) @ Sep 11th 2007 5:43AM

Punishment my ass.

Over here they think prison should be a place where 'misguided' individuals can be nurtured into becoming productive members of society.

If it were up to me I'd re-introduce public floggings. I'd also make them do HARD labour just to get food, water and the chance to sleep indoors. Hell, maybe even heating and a bed in the winter.