On a quiet street in Ilfracombe, Devon, an older woman wearing smart cropped trousers, a red rain jacket, and red socks was cutting wires at the top of a traffic light using small pliers. A grey-haired man was holding an extendable ladder beneath her, while others nearby filmed the scene and cheered her on. The video, posted online on August 28, quickly gained attention. The woman, in her 60s, and the man, in his 70s, were later arrested and released on bail, accused of criminal damage and endangering road users. However, not everyone viewed their actions as vandalism; some believed they were acting on a cause. The group calling themselves “Blade Runners” claims that traffic scanners — devices installed above road intersections — are part of a larger, hidden threat. They allege that these devices include “phased array electronic assault weapons” capable of mass surveillance and even causing health issues like cancer or dementia. Similar groups have previously targeted Ulez cameras in London, which monitor emissions and charge drivers in certain zones, and have also attacked 5G towers, inspired by conspiracy theories linking them to the spread of COVID-19. Ilfracombe is not the only place where traffic scanners have been attacked. In May, police in Cambridge asked for help after nearly 200 traffic detectors were damaged. In Sleaford, Lincolnshire, 10 units were vandalized within a week, with the local council calling the conspiracy claims “ridiculous.” In County Durham, a pensioner is now facing trial for allegedly damaging traffic scanners at eight different sets of lights. Experts suggest the hostility toward traffic scanners is somewhat puzzling. Susan Grant-Muller, a professor of technologies and informatics at the University of Leeds, explains that these devices have been in use since the 1970s. Activists rarely target the basic traffic lights themselves — the familiar red, amber, and green signals — but instead aim at additional sensors on top that monitor vehicle and pedestrian movement. These sensors help traffic lights adjust in real time to ease congestion. Grant-Muller clarifies that these devices do not record personal information such as faces or license plates. They only detect the presence of vehicles or people and estimate the length of queues. These sensors are typically installed at junctions with known traffic problems, often at the request of local residents, and are supported by road safety advocates like Living Streets, which promotes safer conditions for pedestrians. Conspiracies about traffic scanners reflect broader anxieties about surveillance and individual freedom. Clare Birchall, a professor at King’s College London, notes that such beliefs are part of a “super-conspiracy” known as “the great reset,” which ties together various fears about technology and control. She says these theories help people make sense of complex issues like data collection and technological overreach, often serving as a form of everyday critique. Similarly, Stephan Lewandowsky, a professor of cognitive psychology at the University of Bristol, explains that conspiracies often arise in response to frightening events. He suggests that assigning blame to a group of “evil-doers” can provide psychological comfort, helping people feel that the world is not governed by uncontrollable randomness.