An opening shot in an expected battle to limit use of domestic drones came Wednesday when 24 civil liberties and privacy organizations submitted a formal petition to U.S. Customs and Border Protection demanding that the agency stop flying 10 unarmed Predator drones along the Mexican and Canadian borders until clear guidelines are established.
A bill sponsored by a Dallas legislator could make it a crime to take photos of private land using a remote-controlled drone.
“The thought of government drones buzzing overhead and constantly monitoring the activities of law-abiding citizens runs contrary to the notion of what it means to live in a free society,” Sen. Charles E. Grassley (R-Iowa) said Wednesday at a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing that explored whether legislation was needed to curtail drone use to protect civil liberties.
Read the complete article by LA Times reporter Brian Bennett of the Washington Bureau…
Senators examine domestic drones’ effect on privacy
Click the link below to watch the complete US Senate Judiciary Committee Hearing… Click “Webcast”.
The Future of Drones in America: Law Enforcement and Privacy Considerations
Rich Hanson
AMA Government and Regulatory Affairs