There’s a dark side to the flurry of reports and testimony on drones, helpful as they are in many ways. When we read that Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch oppose drone strikes that violate international law, some of us may be inclined to interpret that as a declaration that, in fact, drone strikes violate…
PRIVACY PROTECTION: BAN ON THE USE OF DRONES BY FEDERAL AND STATE AGENCIES Charlottesville, Va., passed a resolution that urged the state of Virginia to adopt a two-year moratorium on drones (which it did), urged both Virginia and the U.S. Congress to prohibit information obtained from the domestic use of drones from being introduced into…
On a residential street in San Diego County, Calif., Chula Vista police had just arrested a young woman, still in her pajamas, for possession of narcotics. Before taking her away, Officer Rob Halverson paused in the front yard, held a Samsung Galaxy tablet up to the woman’s face and snapped a photo. Halverson fiddled with…
Residents of San Diego county are justifiably concerned that new drone technology will soon be tested over their homes and schools. The area has recently been approved as an official FAA drone testing site. The people of Julian, California, in San Diego County, packed a crowded forum on the test site hosted by Back Country Voices. The event brought together a…
At the Pines Hills area home of Lisa Elkins, Lisa’s cat “Phineas” relaxes next to a map of California that depicts the area of the state that’s planned for a federal drone test site. Planning how they’ll fight it are local residents John Raifsnider, left, and Laurel Granquist, at right. — Charlie Neuman San Diego…
Fault Lines investigates the fallout over the NSA’s surveillance programme in the US and abroad. Some of the US’ best secrets are out since former National Security Agency (NSA) contractor Edward Snowden released thousands of classified documents about government surveillance in one of the most significant leaks in US history. He has been charged with…
U.S. law enforcement is greatly expanding its use of domestic drones for surveillance. Routine aerial surveillance would profoundly change the character of public life in America. 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…
ACLU Updated 10/9/13 We’re currently seeing an unprecedented surge of activity in state legislatures across the country aimed at regulating domestic surveillance drones. (My colleagues Jay Stanley and Catherine Crump have this recent piece detailing the trend.) Working closely with our lobbyists in state capitols around the country, we have been tracking this activity and…
When it comes to allowing drones to fly over US soil, Americans are of two minds: embrace domestic drones for such uses as crop dusting, high wire inspection, search and rescue, and border security, or run screaming and seek shelter from the surveillance state in the sky. Those dueling views were on display April 3,…
H.R. 1262: Drone Aircraft Privacy and Transparency Act of 2013 HR 1262 Guidance and limitations regarding the integration of unmanned aircraft systems into United States airspace, and for other purposes. IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES March 19, 2013 Rep. Edward “Ed” Markey introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Transportation and…
Back Country Voices 