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Al Jazeera
Al Jazeera
Science

INSANE: What are spy balloons and why are they used | Rare Historical Photos

People photograph an alleged Chinese spy balloon as it floats off the coast in Surfside Beach, South Carolina [File: Randall Hill/Reuters]

While China has insisted a white orb that floated across the continental United States last week was a wayward weather balloon, officials in Washington, DC, have said the balloon was a spying device deployed by Beijing to surveil sensitive areas.

The high-profile imbroglio has drawn attention to so-called “spy balloons” and the seemingly old-fashioned technology’s role in modern espionage.

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