[ggm]

If they haven't been scammed, there would have to be a belief the originating economy has countermeasures or some belief it can sustain across its use.

If they have been scammed, it wouldn't be the first time. Those carbomb detection broomstick handles come to mind.

[recursivecaveat]

For those unfamiliar: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quadro_Tracker Though the later rename is the one that really took off internationally: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ADE_651. Its really a stranger-than-fiction story, a used-car salesman sells to governments a dowsing rod that you can program to find anything by sticking a polaroid in. Pretty grim though when you consider all the people that died from bombings trusting these worthless things, and the money pocketed by corrupt buyers along the way. Only 12 years for the guy at the top too.

[harambae]

There’s a recent podcast, I think it’s called “Explosive Lies”, covering this

[mac3n]

What's great about such devices is that they can be interpreted by the operator, and lend a false air of authority to their judgement.

There's a great opportunity for AI here.