In December, the ACLU released a report on domestic drone surveillance and Glenn Greenwald warned about their growing use by law enforcement. Recently, there have been articles in The Portland Press Herald and The New York Times among many other news outlets.
It's all because a new federal law now compels the Federal Aviation Administration to allow the use of commercial, emergency and police drone aircraft.
From The New York Times:
Under the new law, within 90 days, the F.A.A. must allow police and first responders to fly drones under 4.4 pounds, as long as they keep them under an altitude of 400 feet and meet other requirements. The agency must also allow for “the safe integration” of all kinds of drones into American airspace, including those for commercial uses, by Sept. 30, 2015. And it must come up with a plan for certifying operators and handling airspace safety issues, among other rules.
These drones aren't relaying grainy, jerky images either. It's high definition quality. Check out this video from a drone at a protest in Poland:
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It's a disturbing development for those of us that value our privacy. As technology is quickly becoming cheaper and more powerful, and interest in deploying drones among police departments is increasing around the country, our privacy laws are not strong enough to ensure that the new technology will be used responsibly and consistently with democratic values.
Routine aerial surveillance in American life will profoundly change the character of public life in the United States. Rules must be put in place to ensure that we can enjoy the benefits of this new technology without bringing us closer to a “surveillance society” in which our every move is monitored, tracked, recorded, and scrutinized by the authorities.
Right now, there are no rules.
