Friday, January 15, 2021
  • About us
    • Write for us
    • Disclaimer
    • Terms of use
    • Privacy Policy
  • RSS Feeds
  • Advertise with us
  • Contact us
DefenceTalk
  • Home
  • Defense News
    • Defense & Geopolitics News
    • War Conflicts News
    • Army News
    • Air Force News
    • Navy News
    • Missiles Systems News
    • Nuclear Weapons
    • Defense Technology
    • Cybersecurity News
  • Military Photos
  • Defense Forum
  • Military Videos
  • Military Weapon Systems
    • Weapon Systems
    • Reports
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Defense News
    • Defense & Geopolitics News
    • War Conflicts News
    • Army News
    • Air Force News
    • Navy News
    • Missiles Systems News
    • Nuclear Weapons
    • Defense Technology
    • Cybersecurity News
  • Military Photos
  • Defense Forum
  • Military Videos
  • Military Weapon Systems
    • Weapon Systems
    • Reports
No Result
View All Result
DefenceTalk
No Result
View All Result

FBI director says surveillance drones used in US

by Agence France-Presse
June 21, 2013
in Defense Geopolitics News
2 min read
0
GA-ASI to Exhibit Full-Scale Model of Predator XP at IDEX
7
SHARES
101
VIEWS

Unmanned drones are roaming American skies conducting surveillance on people in the United States, albeit in a “very minimal way,” the head of the FBI revealed to Congress on Wednesday.

Federal Bureau of Investigation director Robert Mueller said his agency’s use of a small number of aerial drones is relatively new, and that the bureau has only begun to draw up policy and operational guidelines for the devices.

“I will tell you that our footprint is very small,” Mueller testified before the Senate Judiciary Committee.

“We have very few (drones) and of limited use, and we’re exploring not only the use but also the necessary guidelines for that use.”

Mueller said the drones conduct surveillance, but that they were “seldom” used.

Other agencies are known to be using the high-technology gadgets, including the Department of Homeland Security, which uses drones to patrol the US border with Mexico.

Senator Chuck Grassley said Attorney General Eric Holder indicated to him in writing that the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives “had purchased drones and were exploring their use in law enforcement.”

“I think the right of privacy is at stake. If there’s a legitimate law enforcement reason for using it, they ought to say,” Grassley told CNN after the hearing.

He said a simmering distrust of government is fueling suspicion about domestic spying, including recently revealed surveillance programs that gather phone logs and Internet data.

“Because of that mistrust, we’ve got to nail these things down. The people have a right to know.”

In March Republican Senator Rand Paul blocked legislative action for nearly 13 hours on the Senate floor to protest the Obama administration’s refusal to unequivocally rule out drone strikes on US soil.

Days later Holder wrote to Paul clarifying that a US president does not have the power to order a drone strike against a “non combatant” American inside the United States.

Paul expressed concern about the drone surveillance, saying it should not be used without a court-issued search warrant.

“My guess is they don’t have warrants for these things, they’re just flying around. That, I’m opposed to,” he told AFP.

Mueller did not say whether warrants were being obtained for the use of the drones.

Paul said Americans could grow fearful of drones that are small enough to land on a house window or fly indoors.

“I think there’s one that weighs less than an ounce,” Paul said.

Democrats have expressed concern as well. Senator Dianne Feinstein said she believed that “the greatest threat to the privacy of Americans is the drone… and the very few regulations that are on it today.”

Mueller agreed that there should be public discourse over the future of the unmanned vehicles, saying “it’s worthy of debate and perhaps legislation down the road.”

Congress has ordered the Federal Aviation Administration to open up airspace to unmanned aircraft by October 2015.

Tags: dronedronesFBIspySpyingsurveillance
Previous Post

US scraps tons of gear as it leaves Afghanistan – report

Next Post

CIA faulted for choosing Amazon over IBM on cloud contract

Related Posts

Russia Developing Anti-Drone Weapons

Afghanistan probes air strike that killed civilians

January 11, 2021

Afghan authorities said Monday they are investigating an air strike at the weekend which local officials say killed more than...

Chinese Air Force Reveals J-20 Combat Formation

Taiwan says Chinese fighter jets made record 380 incursions in 2020

January 7, 2021

Chinese jets made a record 380 incursions into Taiwan's defence zone last year, a defence official said Tuesday, as a...

Next Post
CIA faulted for choosing Amazon over IBM on cloud contract

CIA faulted for choosing Amazon over IBM on cloud contract

Latest Defense News

DOD’s Autonomous Vessel Sails Through Transit Test, Participates in Exercise Dawn Blitz

DOD’s Autonomous Vessel Sails Through Transit Test, Participates in Exercise Dawn Blitz

January 14, 2021
NORAD Air Defense Exercise Planned for National Capital Region

NORAD Air Defense Exercise Planned for National Capital Region

January 13, 2021
Russia Developing Anti-Drone Weapons

Afghanistan probes air strike that killed civilians

January 11, 2021
Night-Vision Revolution: Less Weight, Improved Performance

Night-Vision Revolution: Less Weight, Improved Performance

January 11, 2021
Biden: Better Conventional Arms Will Allow Nuclear Drawdown

Biden urged to renounce sole control of US nuclear weapons

January 11, 2021
Final Trophy Active Protection Systems Delivered to US Army

Final Trophy Active Protection Systems Delivered to US Army

January 11, 2021

Defense Forum Discussions

Loading RSS Feed
DefenceTalk

© 2003-2020 DefenceTalk.com

Navigate Site

  • Defence Forum
  • Military Photos
  • RSS Feeds
  • About us
  • Advertise with us
  • Contact us

Follow Us

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Defense News
    • Defense & Geopolitics News
    • War Conflicts News
    • Army News
    • Air Force News
    • Navy News
    • Missiles Systems News
    • Nuclear Weapons
    • Defense Technology
    • Cybersecurity News
  • Military Photos
  • Defense Forum
  • Military Videos
  • Military Weapon Systems
    • Weapon Systems
    • Reports

© 2003-2020 DefenceTalk.com