US Government Rolls Out Domestic Drone Rules

[ksholder]

OK, I have major league problems with the feds spying on US citizens in our home territory. Hopefully, Congress will shoot these things down before they get off the ground in a big way, but time will tell. They have already been used at least once for police work and Congress has passed enabling legislation for many more.

Folks - we gotta say something to our elected reps about this stuff. The second link asserts that there could be 30K drones in our skies in 8 years.

Privacy concerns as US government rolls out domestic drone rules | Fox News

http://www.commondreams.org/headline/2012/02/09-6

[DefensiveCarry.com]

[HotGuns]

If you are depending on Congress to do anything, I hope you aren't dissapointed.

[ppkheat]

Sadly they are already watching much of what we now do. I don't know how much satellite resolution "they" have available to them, but some landowners have been fined for violating federal regulations. I'm not supporting violators, but I know they were caught due to satellite survellience.

[Happypuppy]

They are flying right now. I suspect this is to make it official.

http://www.spokesman.com/stories/201...ington-border/


Sent from my 300 baud modem

[gasmitty]

I don't know how much satellite resolution "they" have available to them, but some landowners have been fined for violating federal regulations.

Probably 20 years ago, the best eyes in the sky could tell whether you were smoking Marlboros or Camels on your back porch.

[HotGuns]

Resolution?

If the conditions are right they can distinguish and classify fingerprints on your vehicle.

Using image intensifiers and infrared spectrometry, they can tell disturbed dirt and when you buried your cache of guns and ammo. They can log it with a GPS and go right to it when ever they deem necessary.

They can watch your vehicle run, and do an analysis of your tailpipe emissions to see how your engine is running.

Using thermal technology, they can tell what room of the house you are sleeping in and if they really want to coordinate the satellite, if you are worth their time, they can hear how loud you are snoring or what you are saying in your sleep.

Think thats pretty far fetched? What do you think it'll be like in 20 years?

[msgt/ret]

Want a surprise, just go to Google maps and put in your home address, granted it will be low resolution but you will be amazed how much can be made out. Most of the satellite shots are old but in my case you can easily make out the pool, what kind of tractor I have and the two Honda 600 cars in the back. When you consider the resolution on more current satellites they can probably read the VINs on both cars.

[Crowman]

Dear Concerned American Citizens,

Honest, we will only use these drones to "spy" on bad people. We are your friends and we will never violate your rights, well unless we do.

Signed
Your Loving Federal/State and Local Governments

[IronMike]

Why worry if you are not doing anything wrong?Its a matter of State Security...The ends justify the means.

[ksholder]

If you are depending on Congress to do anything, I hope you aren't dissapointed.

I quite agree. However, if people get off the bench and complain, the congress critters just may listen.

I also agree with what others have written that drones are just the next step in a long trail of such abuses, but until we stand up to the monster we have created, it will simply keep escalating the abuses.

30K drones may at least improve the coverage or allow for easier targeting. It is also a huge step in the militarization of US police forces.

[paaiyan]

I'm not sure what to do about these drones. It just seems like a terrible idea to allow this. We all know it's perfectly legal to walk around and take pictures of whatever you want. What if the gubmint decides to start taking wide-spectrum photos of everything? When does flying over my backyard and taking pictures turn into a violation of my privacy?

[RayBar]

Welcome to obamaville comrade.

[suntzu]

Welcome to obamaville comrade.

I am no fan of the current administration but just look back at the Bush administration's policies on domestic surveillance. The list is long but at the fore front were the warrantless collection of signals of US persons by the NSA.

[xXxplosive]

Disgusted..............

[DontTreadOnI]

Why worry if you are not doing anything wrong?Its a matter of State Security...The ends justify the means.

I hope to God that was sarcasm and my sarcasm detector is just not working this morning...