A civil liberties group is opposed to the use of high-pitched devices to deter youths from loitering at Ceduna in South Australia's far west.

The device, known as 'mosquito', emits an irritating high-pitched sound that is said to be only audible to young people.

The local council wants to use the devices at night as part of a wider strategy to stop teenagers loitering.

But chief executive of Civil Liberties Australia, Bill Rowlings, says it a disturbing 'big brother' idea.

"We're concerned that it's taking technology and turning the children into guinea pigs," he said.

"People say that no-one's ears can be hurt by this, but surely children's ears can be hurt if it's offensive to them and we don't know what damage it's doing to the children.

"Most times if children are loitering there are other measures that councils could and perhaps should try to take."