Drone List Released By FAA Shows Which Police Departments Want To Fly Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), commonly known as drones, may be coming to a police department near you. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has released an updated drone authorization list as a result of a Freedom of Information Act request made by the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF), a non-profit organization for digital civil liberties.
The new list reveals 81 entities that have applied for permission to fly drones in U.S. airspace, including a number of government agencies and universities. Seventeen police departments and sheriff’s offices across the country have also filed, among them are stations in Little Rock, Ark., Gadsden, Ala., Miami, Fla., Ogden, Utah, and Seattle, Wash.
Universities that can be found on the list include California State University, Cornell University, Kansas State University and Penn State University, among others. In addition, the Indian Tribal office in California, has made a request to be allowed to fly UAVs.
California Legislature Passes Law to Regulate Drones
Legislation that requires police to obtain a warrant to use surveillance drones is close to becoming law in California. State lawmakers approved the measure — AB 1327 — on Wednesday, Aug. 27. If signed by Gov. Jerry Brown, law enforcement agencies in California would need a warrant before deploying unmanned aerial drones, except in the case of environmental emergencies.
The legislation is needed because the expanded adoption of drones by law enforcement has impacted the public’s expectation of privacy, according to Assemblyman Jeff Gorell, R-Camarillo, the bill’s sponsor.
“There are tremendous benefits that can be realized from these tools, but only if we first pass the legislation that will protect our civil and privacy rights from abuses of the technology,” Gorell said in a statement. “As the tech capitol of the nation, California should also lead in protecting our privacy from intrusions by new technology.” Source: Governing.com
State lawmakers approved the measure — AB 1327 — on Wednesday, Aug. 27. If signed by Gov. Jerry Brown, law enforcement agencies in California would need a warrant before deploying unmanned aerial drones, except in the case of environmental emergencies.
-
Police Drones: Technology Takes Crime Fighting To New Heights |
-
Photo & Linked Article BY ASHLEY HAUCK ON ·INFOGRAPHICS, TECHNOLOG
DOMESTIC DRONES
U.S. law enforcement is greatly expanding its use of surveillance drones, and private actors are also seeking to use the technology for personal and commercial use.Drones have many beneficial uses, including in search-and-rescue missions, scientific research, mapping, and more. But deployed without proper regulation, drones equipped with facial recognition software, infrared technology, and speakers capable of monitoring personal conversations would cause unprecedented invasions of our privacy rights. Interconnected drones could enable mass tracking of vehicles and people in wide areas. Tiny drones could go completely unnoticed while peering into the window of a home or place of worship.