The FBI is operating a small air force to spy on Americans
Source: Associated Press
WASHINGTON (AP) The FBI is operating a small air force with scores of low-flying planes across the country carrying video and, at times, cellphone surveillance technology all hidden behind fictitious companies that are fronts for the government, The Associated Press has learned.
The planes' surveillance equipment is generally used without a judge's approval, and the FBI said the flights are used for specific, ongoing investigations. In a recent 30-day period, the agency flew above more than 30 cities in 11 states across the country, an AP review found.
Aerial surveillance represents a changing frontier for law enforcement, providing what the government maintains is an important tool in criminal, terrorism or intelligence probes. But the program raises questions about whether there should be updated policies protecting civil liberties as new technologies pose intrusive opportunities for government spying.
U.S. law enforcement officials confirmed for the first time the wide-scale use of the aircraft, which the AP traced to at least 13 fake companies, such as FVX Research, KQM Aviation, NBR Aviation and PXW Services. Even basic aspects of the program are withheld from the public in censored versions of official reports from the Justice Department's inspector general.
Read more: http://www.businessinsider.com/the-fbi-is-reportedly-operating-a-small-air-force-to-monitor-americans-2015-6#ixzz3buTvoqOC
Read more: http://www.businessinsider.com/the-fbi-is-reportedly-operating-a-small-air-force-to-monitor-americans-2015-6
Whatever happened to the 4th Amendment?
MicaelS
(8,747 posts)Stall speed is 49 knots.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cessna_182
Never exceed speed: 175 knots (201 mph, 324 km/h)
Maximum speed: 150 knots (173 mph, 278 km/h)
Cruise speed: 145 knots (167 mph, 269 km/h)
Stall speed: 49 knots (56 mph, 91 km/h)
Range: 930 nmi (1,070 mi, 1,722 km)
Service ceiling: 18,100 ft (5,517 m)
peacebird
(14,195 posts)hack89
(39,171 posts)no expectation of privacy in a public area.
I have a reasonable expectation of privacy in my back yard with an 8 foot fence around it.
hack89
(39,171 posts)so the reasonable expectation of privacy standard is does not apply. This issue has been adjudicated many times.
United States vs Allen is a good and recent example of the current legal reasoning:
https://casetext.com/case/united-states-v-allen-17
I am not saying it is good law. Just saying that it is the current interpretation.
Rossi
(56 posts)From your own citation:
hack89
(39,171 posts)they didn't need one in the case I cited. If the cops can link the search to a specific suspect(s) or a specific criminal act then they do not need warrants. They also do not need a warrant if, when flying over your house on a routine flight they see something incriminating in your backyard. The courts have ruled that planes flying overhead are a fact of modern life.
Not much point in an 8' fence if your neighbor can just stare at you with a periscope.
MADem
(135,425 posts)I can see 5 fenced yards from upstairs in my joint.
Nowadays fences are to keep little kids in, more than any thing else. And dogs...no free-range anything these days.
think
(11,641 posts)From the article:
A Justice Department memo last month also expressly barred its component law enforcement agencies from using unmanned drones "solely for the purpose of monitoring activities protected by the First Amendment" and said they are to be used only in connection with authorized investigations and activities. A department spokeswoman said the policy applied only to unmanned aircraft systems rather than piloted airplanes.
Read more: http://www.businessinsider.com/the-fbi-is-reportedly-operating-a-small-air-force-to-monitor-americans-2015-6#ixzz3buWIXWef
hobbit709
(41,694 posts)csziggy
(34,137 posts)A man inherited the family home, only to find that it was on the flight path for a major airport. After a lot of legal wrangling his recourse was to fly a blimp over his property. The idea was that he owned the airspace above his property and had never sold or leased it to the airlines or the government for their use.
It's got to be forty or more years since I read the book so I probably have some details wrong. Plus, any legal basis for the premise would be long outdated. But the book was funny as hell - I just wish I could remember the title!
cstanleytech
(26,319 posts)peacebird
(14,195 posts)And only the meadow is visible from our road
jberryhill
(62,444 posts)If it is legal to fly somewhere, it is legal to look down. That goes for the FBI or anyone else.
Dow Chemical Co. v. United States
476 U.S. 227 (1986)
https://supreme.justia.com/cases/federal/us/476/227/case.html
peacebird
(14,195 posts)That is clearly a section of the law that needs some updating....
Kelvin Mace
(17,469 posts)my phone calls and internet feeds.
cstanleytech
(26,319 posts)so I really dont recommend having sex outside on the lawn besides it might scare the neighbors...................I know if I did that it would scare mine.
hack89
(39,171 posts)peacebird
(14,195 posts)Dont call me Shirley
(10,998 posts)octoberlib
(14,971 posts)Evolving technology can record higher-quality video from long distances, even at night, and can capture certain identifying information from cellphones using a device known as a "cell-site simulator" or Stingray, to use one of the product's brand names. These can trick pinpointed cellphones into revealing identification numbers of subscribers, including those not suspected of a crime.
Officials say cellphone surveillance is rare, although the AP found in recent weeks FBI flights orbiting large, enclosed buildings for extended periods where aerial photography would be less effective than electronic signals collection. Those included above Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport and the Mall of America in Bloomington, Minnesota.
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/breaking/ct-secret-fbi-flights-20150602-story.html#page=1
sarcasmo
(23,968 posts)You are being watched.
Baitball Blogger
(46,757 posts)I assume they're not using anything that radiates into our homes that can harm us, but, you never know. We once had a can of shaving cream that just unloaded its contents for no reason at all. I'm sure that happens on its own, but, still, weird.
But, this kind of power is very disconcerting when you stop and consider that the FBI is very aware of the racist environments that many of us live in and I really doubt that their flyovers have anything to do with protecting our interests.
Though, I did see something that made me wonder. I was walking out to the parking lot and there was a helicopter doing his thing and the Anglo-American in front of me seemed to be more paranoid than I was! The guy was dressed in preppy casual, older man, and he stopped behind a car to look anxiously up at the chopper. I thought to myself, "nice way to stand out in a crowd."
Jackpine Radical
(45,274 posts)I know the sound of a Huey still provokes a reaction in me.
Baitball Blogger
(46,757 posts)I did see a Vietnam vet lose it many, many years ago. It was at a Fourth of July celebration and we were all walking to the event grounds when some guy jumped the fence running in the opposite direction. "Run!" he shouted at us. "They're coming for us. I mean it!"
Poor guy. I didn't see the helicopter until he had long disappeared behind the parked cars.
Spitfire of ATJ
(32,723 posts)"Obama's comin' for us!!! Told ya'all he was after our gunz!!! Buy more bullets!!! Bar yer wind'ers!!! Lock up yer dawg!!!"
"BTW: Wanna buy some meth?"
Jesus Malverde
(10,274 posts)You think the FBI is a liberal bunch?
JM
Spitfire of ATJ
(32,723 posts)They believe cops are supposed to serve as political stormtroopers.
FiveGoodMen
(20,018 posts)They'd actually be about right with, "Obama's coming for us"
Laugh all you want.
Spitfire of ATJ
(32,723 posts)jtuck004
(15,882 posts)underpants
(182,879 posts)Taitertots
(7,745 posts)If you're not rich, you're just another potential terrorist.
Jesus Malverde
(10,274 posts)Surveillance equipment.
A-holes
Kablooie
(18,641 posts)Though considering the condition of my body it might be hard to prove.
valerief
(53,235 posts)dbackjon
(6,578 posts)Historic NY
(37,453 posts)from cars to space.....someone is always watching.
Blue_Tires
(55,445 posts)The FBI employs aerial surveillance? Has nobody ever watched 'Casino'?
More general info here: http://www2.fbi.gov/publications/leb/2009/november2009/legal_digest.htm
bobthedrummer
(26,083 posts)Vinca
(50,303 posts)I remember a few years ago I was outside working in the yard in our rural area and suddenly the automatic garage doors started going up and down on their own. I never did find out what caused it . . . feebees?
DavidDvorkin
(19,485 posts)That's the inevitable result.
http://dvorkin.com/dn/
Jesus Malverde
(10,274 posts)It's amazing. Beautiful interface and very fun.
Highly recommended.
http://www.flightradar24.com