Mosquito - Beethoven

A new device referred to as 'mosquito' or 'beethoven', to exclude adolescents from areas where it is used, has appeared. Consisting of a small box with a loudspeaker it emits sounds which oscillate between 17 kHz and 18 kHz, a range which can be heard only by children and adolescents. The emission is at 95 dBs and causes a disagreeable sensation to young people, and can give severe headache. It cannot be heard by older people and, strangely, does not appear to affect dogs. It is used outside shops or in areas where young people congregate and sometimes intimidate passersby. The effect of the device is to create child free zones. It is widely used in the UK. In other European countries parents protest use of the device. Belgium has refused to suspend sales of the device. It sells for about 500 Euro.
The device effectively criminalises all young people, the innocent as well as those who might cause offense to others. It also affects babies and young children who are not involved in objectionable behaviour.
It is difficult to understand that use of such a device is acceptable.