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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsFBI making surveillance flights over U.S. cities, including Chicago
The FBI is operating a small air force with scores of low-flying planes across the country carrying video and, at times, cellphone surveillance technology all hidden behind fictitious companies that are fronts for the government, The Associated Press has learned.
The planes' surveillance equipment is generally used without a judge's approval, and the FBI said the flights are used for specific, ongoing investigations. In a recent 30-day period, the agency flew above more than 30 cities in 11 states across the country, an AP review found.
Aerial surveillance represents a changing frontier for law enforcement, providing what the government maintains is an important tool in criminal, terrorism or intelligence probes. But the program raises questions about whether there should be updated policies protecting civil liberties as new technologies pose intrusive opportunities for government spying.
U.S. law enforcement officials confirmed for the first time the wide-scale use of the aircraft, which the AP traced to at least 13 fake companies, such as FVX Research, KQM Aviation, NBR Aviation and PXW Services. Even basic aspects of the program are withheld from the public in censored versions of official reports from the Justice Department's inspector general.
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/breaking/ct-secret-fbi-flights-20150602-story.html#page=1
KingCharlemagne
(7,908 posts)in a timely manner; they had to first go through the NSA and now the FBI. At least I know now and can dispense with my 'dog ate my homework' type of excuse
Is it too early to call it a 'police state' or do we have to wait until DU's membership are being transported to internment camps?
dixiegrrrrl
(60,010 posts)rec.....
Edited to add this, from the article:
One of the planes, photographed in flight last week by the AP in northern Virginia, bristled with unusual antennas under its fuselage and a camera on its left side.
A federal budget document from 2010 mentioned at least 115 planes, including 90 Cessna aircraft, in the FBI's surveillance fleet.
octoberlib
(14,971 posts)why a plane kept making circles over the area they lived in, so I thought I'd post.