AUGUSTA, Maine — Unmanned, remotely controlled aircraft have become a daily tool of the military in Afghanistan, where they have proven invaluable in providing real-time information. But there is growing concern in Congress and among civil libertarians that law enforcement will want to use that technology more broadly at home.
“This is an issue of concern to a lot of members,“ Sen. Olympia Snowe said last week. “I supported an amendment to the farm bill that would have prohibited the Environmental Protection Agency from conducting aerial surveillance of farm operations. Unfortunately that failed to get the 60 votes necessary.”
The Republican senator said Congress has directed the Federal Aviation Administration to develop regulations for the use of drone aircraft for policing purposes, but Snowe says that use should be limited. She supports the use of drones for patrolling along border areas, something that has been underway for several years.
“I don’t support the broad use of these by government,” said Snowe, a member of the Senate Intelligence Committee.
Snowe said it is important that Congress consider legislation that would clearly spell out when and where law enforcement could use drones and not rely on rules from the FAA or other federal agencies.
The remote-controlled aircraft have become increasingly sophisticated and now include models that can hover over a location for hours and provide video and other surveillance data. They range from an aircraft that can carry a missile to hand-launched units.
Rep. Mike Michaud said he supports law enforcement use of drones, but only for limited purposes such as patrolling the border. He said there has been a lot of discussion among members about broad use by law enforcement agencies, which could pose serious privacy concerns.
“I have not heard of any real need that drones should be used broadly in the United States,” the Democrat who represents Maine’s 2nd District said last week. “I think there is a need on the border where we see illegal crossings and drugs being brought across the border.”
Michaud said he would need to be convinced that any additional use of the drone aircraft by law enforcement is warranted.
“There are real privacy concerns with using drones and we should make sure those are taken into account,” he said.
Some police agencies across the country are hoping the new federal rules being drafted will allow drone use by police in day-to-day operations. They argue there are savings in using remote-controlled aircraft rather than piloted aircraft or helicopters.
Shenna Bellows, executive director of the ACLU of Maine, said that is just what privacy advocates are worried about. She said the FAA rules could encourage increased use and that poses a whole range of privacy concerns.
“Drones should be prohibited from spying based on First Amendment protected activities,” she said earlier this week. “We oppose the congressional action telling the FAA to relax the drone rules.”
Bellows said the standard should be set high for when law enforcement can use drones for any purpose. She said there should be “specific and articulable” evidence that a crime has been committed before the remote-controlled aircraft can be used. She said drones have become so sophisticated, with cameras that can provide high-resolution pictures, that they pose a huge privacy risk.
Some drones also can be equipped with lenses to take pictures in very low light or in the dark with an infrared lens.
“Now that the genie is out of the bottle, the ACLU is calling for important safeguards on use of the drones,” she said. “We believe law enforcement should be required to get a warrant for drone use and that drone use should be geographically confined and time limited to emergency situations.”
Bellows said the drones should not become a tool that replaces a police officer on patrol. She is worried that the push in some states for use of drones will spread to Maine.
Col. Robert Williams, chief of the Maine State Police, the largest law enforcement force in the state, said his agency has no plans to acquire a drone.
“To my knowledge they are not being used by law enforcement in Maine,“ he wrote in an email.
LOL, let me guess, the Republicans are going to quickly course correct so they’re not in agreement with the ACLU?
Actually, I see it as the ACLU agreeing with me. Finally.
I don’t recall hearing Republicans screech when Bush used them. I don’t recall ever hearing Republicans upset about police power, except of course when it’s politically convenient.
And PS — please save me, I don’t need to heard some flimsy and made-up distinction about how Bush’s use was different.
No need for that. Many conservatives opposed the Patriot Act at its inception. Many of us opposed President Obama’s enlargement and strengthening of it, when he said he would end it. Many of us opposed the use of drones to assassinate Americans and many of us oppose the expanded use of drones under Obama to watch legal/protected activities of American citizens. It is the left that changed the use of those tools from protecting American citizens to using them against us. That expansion is why many of us objected to their use in the beginning and still object to them now.
I love how the use of drones by the Bush administration was decried by Democrats as reprehensible and un-American, yet now that the Obama administration is using them on an even larger scale, you never hear any complaints. Killing with drones by Bush = Bad. Killing by drones by Obama = silence. Hmmm.
Stop spreading the truth.
oops. sorry. I will start using network news media as my opinion from now on. ; )
But the ACLU standing against the Democrat administration??? Does not compute…….
They do quite frequently. They’re issue based, not party based.
true. It just seems most of their issues run with the democrats. You are correct on this correction and I publicly apologize. I guess I should apologize for trying to be funny as well, but some people got the humor I am sure.
Aren’t these the same drones that Obama has been encouraging Police departments across the country to adopt? Looks like it isn’t Bush this time!
But try getting that point past the Obama Disciples!
The thing is though, most Democrats defend their principles not their representatives blindly. We know Obama is a centrist and in terms of foreign policy, he’s more center right. I don’t and didn’t support the wars we’re fighting since the very beginning. I don’t support the expansion of police powers — I don’t support that regardless of who is in office and neither does the ACLU. Many Republicans on the other hand seem to only have an issue when a Democrat is in office.
“The thing is though, most Democrats defend their principles not their representatives blindly.”
As I wipe the tears from my eyes and the soda that just sprayed out of my nose onto my keyboard!!! You’re funny!!!
And what I said isn’t true? Suddenly Democrats love war and Defense spending? You can be dismissive all you want, but it doesn’t change the facts.
How about the fact that Obama’s increase of use of the drones is applauded by the same people that said that Bush’s use of the drones was evil.
That applauding is not happening though.
Drones, Satellites, Aircraft, Helicopters, Police cars, Vans, Robots, Dogs
Whats the Differance?
Survelliance is survelliance, THATS the Issue!
How would the use of a drone be any more an invasion of privacy than the use of police helicopters in big cities, or marijuana spotters here in Maine? The only substantial difference I can see is whether the human pilot is seated in the vehicle, or piloting it remotely.
you can hear the coming. I believe the drone is near silent. not that it will matter to you I am sure.
“Rep. Mike Michaud said he supports law enforcement use of drones, but only for limited purposes such as patrolling the border.”
And that would be a surprise. A Democrat that is willing to defend the borders? Or is the use of drones on the border just so we get an accurate count of how many we are allowing to walk in every day. May as well air drop welfare checks to them while the drone passes over.
you do known obama has deported more illegals than bush
so that is why there are refusing to answer the call from Arizona. so that is why they are granting Amnesty to so many illegals. Please link to your source so I can verify your claim and I will then make a public apology. (guessing I will not need to apologize)
Unless the border are defended and ALL illegals kicked out who cares.
You forgot to make sure they get a Social Security check just for coming here.
glad you caught that missed portion. Thanks
This is just another ratcheting up of all pervasive government power.
The timid and half hearted “reservations” of Michaud and Snowe is a pathetic political dodge.
If we, as concerned Americans, want to protect our constitutional rights to privacy which prohibit the government from unreasonable searches, the time to speak out is now.
Otherwise this technology will become just one more way for the government to waste our tax dollars and intrude in our lives.
Just wait until we see cameras on every street recording each and every move we make.
What’s next, implanting a microchip at birth to monitor every aspect of our life from what we eat and drink to where we go at any given time?
But not to worry, the ones who support a police state will say, “If you are doing nothing wrong then you have nothing to worry about.” I hear that one all the time and scoff at the ones who believe the BS they spew.
“If you are doing nothing wrong then you have nothing to worry about.”
Give them time. They will classify what you are currently doing as wrong and then will come after you. For example – setting the portion sizes for soda in New York. Bloomberg will be using the drones to check the size of your soda and if you are in a designated smoking area.
Drones? What about the wardens who enter posted private property without a warrant all the time just because they want to.
you are trying to make a distinction between drones and wardens. I have met some of the wardens. I think we have been using drones for years.
Kind of my point…
Go back to bed, it won’t effect you. (-;
They spy on people then they use the information to compromise them into compliance… That is how the politicans ended up working for coroprations.
An open question for the ACLU: What do you wish to hide from
law enforcement?
Since when are the police the bad guys? If there is a way to
save tax dollars, manpower, and apprehend lawbreakers I’m on the side of law
enforcement; evidently the ACLU is not.
Advent of “SkyNet”…
What are the restrictions on helicopters and airplanes used by law enforcement?
I have been flying drones for the past 4 months or so. It takes a good deal of technical knowledge and practice to assemble a drone and fly it.
The imagery from this perspective can be quite unique, I look forward to seeing where “flying” cameras will go as technology processes.
Here are some videos I have made with my drone:
http://www.youtube.com/user/EarthCopter