Domestic Drone Surveillance step towards Police State?

Be like Nutella

Drones herald a brand new and very disruptive technological paradigm, the effects of which haven't even begun to be understood or appreciated yet, in my view.

I'm kinda biased haha I hate drones as a rule, that's just me I have many reasons, most of them moral-based and most of them borne from intensive study of whats been going on in Pakistan for many years now... but that is a different thing altogether....that's about slaughter, this is more about government surveillance.

The other half to the 'drone story' as it were, is the massive roll out of small to medium sized drones which are being shopped to all types of law enforcement bodies and corporations right across the US by the industry which is fiercely competitive and has a large lobbying presence in Washington.

The FAA who obviously regulate US airspace have not given drones the green light to fly around the US yet (with a few specific exceptions) and as I say the 'drone lobby' is working hard to get the FAA to just roll over on drones operating within the US and the industry generally at this moment is saying that they feel this approval is a few years away but they feel quite positive on its likelihood (not that they should or shouldn't for any factual reasons so far, it's just they're all deeply invested in this outcome so... they're optimistic.. I've heard experts argue both ways)

However, at this juncture there's an awful lot of 'selling' going on... people trying to sell drone systems to sheriff departments or 'smart idea' people within various departments 'looking into' drones as a solution to a problem or set of problems. So there's a lot of testing and visiting and selling and investigating and 'deal' being done between the drone industry and various types of organizations from numerous government depts to local law enforcement, state and federal, FBI and also many types of corporations and universities for all sorts of reasons... some of which are absolutely fine with me and could even save lives, others not so fine with me and DO in my opinion represent a major risk to civil liberties should the law not regulate this 'space' appropriately. Problem is, unfortunately, in my view, industry lobbying and money make mince meat out of regulatory efforts in Washington and there usually is just one winner in that sort of game, if ya get me.

So.... what are the risks?

The risks are basically that all kinds of government depts and organizations of many kinds will get their hands on all manner of advanced drones and watch people when and where they want and use that surveillance video and information how they please with ample room for abuse of peoples rights and privacy.

And don't tell me that the industry has peoples benefits in mind, they are simply companies out to make money end of story. Such is the nature of business, hence government checks business, or at least that's how it's supposed to work : )

And those government agencies and depts that would endeavor to keep US citizens safe would endeavor to do so potentially far and beyond what is needed or helpful and cross over to the 'dark side' of infringing on peoples rights and privacy, given the chance, as they do so currently on a huge scale and in countless examples. Think 'Patriot Act abuses' multiplied by TENS OF THOUSANDS OF DRONES ABOVE YOUR HEAD ! That's basically the very real risk here. There are hundreds of salient points and specific issues arising with the FAA allowing drones in US airspace but this is the broad risk, in short.

Concentrated power, using thousands of drones to spy on US citizens, collecting massive quantities of data to be analyzed as part of the war in error I mean War on Terror or for a host of other reasons is what could/may/will happen if the FAA just capitulates to industry pressure.

Just new technology, same story every time new tech breaks out, nothing to fear here, all a load of CT hype?

What do yee all think?


one of many many many impressive new drones being 'shopped' at ... well....whoever wants to do some surveill -ing !

Cookie_Monster

I'm buying one (well an rc heli) and I'm gonna put a camera on it so I can spy on you