The Justice Department has released guidelines for law enforcement drone use domestically. While these guidelines are not legally enforceable, they are the first step by the government to regulate itself in the brave new world of drone technology, which has become a magnet for privacy and safety concerns around the globe.
The Department of Justice Policy on law enforcement’s use of drones (UAS) holds that “Respect for civil rights and civil liberties is a core test of our democracy.” The Fourth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution protects its citizens from unreasonable searches and seizures which the UAS policy attempts to abide by. Law enforcement will be required to obtain a warrant when using drones to conduct surveillance or using them in any way that would violate a “reasonable expectation of privacy.”
Enforcement of these policies on law enforcement drone use will come in various forms from the Justice Department. Training for drone operators in these guidelines will be mandatory and subject to annual reviews by the deputy attorney general. Drone flight logs will be required and summaries of these flights will be posted one year after they occurred.
Using domestic drones for law enforcement is nothing new, and there are still no comprehensive, legally enforceable rules governing the practice of drone usage from local police all the way up to the alphabet agencies of the federal government. There are examples where drones have been used to great effect such as Engadget ‘s story on Grand Forks, ND, police using domestic drones to nab underage drinking suspects.
Not every country uses drones the same way, and many people fear what unregulated drone usage can mean for law enforcement especially in a time when faith in law enforcement is at an all time low. An extreme example is from the United Kingdom, which has built a reputation as one of the most progressive surveillance states in the world. The surveillance society of England was raised to new heights (or lows) when UK Register reported on the Liverpool police testing a new mini-Black Helicopter which was nearly silent in operation and included cameras and microphones.
The Justice Department claims its guidelines for law enforcement drone usage in the United States follows the FAA’s submitted rules for commercial drone usage that was submitted several months ago. You can read the entire Just Department domestic drone use guidelines here .
The rules for private drone usage is even more hazy as the Inquisitr has covered previously. There has been no word on any recommendations for private drone usage at this time.
[Photo by Philipp Guelland/Getty Images]
