The small unmanned aircraft that are proving to be such a powerful weapon in our nation’s military operations are coming to a community near you. The police are going to get their hands on them. They have already been used in some limited cases against truly bad guys, but so far the FAA has to approve each use of them and only for “emergency” purposes. But in 2013 the FAA expects to loosen the requirements, allowing the police to use them routinely. Speeders, beware.
Some civil liberty folks are concerned. Do they have a basis for their objection? Short of a totalitarian take-over that would monitor citizens’ every move, do you see a problem with this?
Domestic use of aerial drones by law enforcement likely to prompt privacy debate.