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Drones and Law Enforcement

Technology has always been ahead of the law, or so the adage goes. Smartphones, internet-enabled vehicles & wristwatches, health monitors, home video cameras, and other devices have all been part of the discussion around privacy and technology. It’s nearly impossible to write privacy laws to cover devices and capabilities that have yet to be invented, so often times there is new technology on the market while the law tries to catch up. Some believe that to be the case with drones. I do not concur.

The use of drones has been increasing exponentially over the last few years with drones being available for private use, businesses, news reporting, and law enforcement, to name a few. Drones are so prevalent that anyone can purchase one on Amazon for fifty bucks, and that includes the attachable 2MP HD Wifi camera. At that price, having a personal drone may become as common as having a cell phone.

But not everyone is fond of […] → Keep reading

Drones: Open For Business

Last week a federal judge dismissed a $10,000 fine the FAA had levied against a drone operator, saying there is no law to ban the commercial use of small drones. Small drones are those that fly at less than 400 feet, as opposed to larger military-style drones that share the skies with airplanes and helicopters. The court’s ruling deems small drones to be the same as model airplanes and not subject to current FAA regulations. The FAA had levied the 10K fine against Raphael Pirker for allegedly operating a drone recklessly while filming a commercial for the University of Virginia’s medical school. So far, Pirker is the only person to have a fine levied for using a drone, but the FAA has sent letters and made calls to other drone operators. The FAA announced after the ruling that they would be proposing a rule on small drone use by the end of the year, but in the mean time, it […] → Keep reading

Drones In My State? Yes, Please

Drones have been given a bad name. Mention the word drone and most people will automatically think of a Predator launching Hellfire missiles to obliterate a target. Drone use at this point is primarily military and their role in the killing of people in Afghanistan, Iraq, Pakistan, Yemen and Somalia has been extremely controversial in some circles. Some say the attacks are illegal assassinations and others say those killed are terrorists and are therefore legitimate targets.

Without delving into the merits or ethics of using drones to launch attacks, there are many other uses for drones that are being summarily dismissed by many people based on the belief that drones would violate privacy or be launching Hellfire missiles here in the United States.

Here in Oklahoma, Governor Fallin formed the Governor’s Unmanned Aerial Systems Council with a goal of lobbying for commercial drone test sites in Oklahoma and luring more military contractors to the state. Oklahoma’s Secretary of Science […] → Keep reading