News & Commentary
Feb 28, 2012
Drones Coming To A Police Department Near You?
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:
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 Americ
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