Augusta – The ACLU of Maine and other privacy advocates will testify today in favor of a bill to put reasonable limits on law enforcement use of drones for surveillance. "An Act To Protect the Privacy of Citizens from Domestic Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Use," sponsored by Sen. John Patrick (D-Rumford), would require a warrant in most cases before police could use the unmanned aerial vehicles for surveillance.
“Mainers shouldn’t have to fear that unmanned drones would be spying on our homes and our backyards. Unfortunately, cheap technology and a change in the federal rules make the specter of backyard surveillance a real and terrifying possibility,” said Shenna Bellows, executive director of the ACLU of Maine. “The legislature should act this year to protect us from unfettered drone surveillance before it’s too late.”
A Freedom of Information Act request last year revealed a growing list of police departments gaining permission to fly drones. The Federal Aviation Administration estimates there could be as many as 10,000 drones in U.S. airspace by 2020.
Nationwide, there is unprecedented activity to put reasonable limits on the use of drones for surveillance. There are at least 15 state legislatures considering bills to limit drone use, and Virginia became the first state to do so this year when it passed a two-year moratorium.
“Drone technology is real and it will inevitably come to Maine – yet our laws have not kept up with this advancing technology,” said Senator Patrick. “This bill would put reasonable protections in place to ensure the police can do their jobs and innocent Mainers are protected from overreaching surveillance.”
“Maine should join the growing number of states that are waking up to the strange new truth that drones are here, they are powerful, and they are virtually unchecked,” said Bellows. “Science fiction is becoming fact, and it’s time to bring our laws up to speed.”
Learn more: www.aclumaine.org/privacy
