Spy drones in demand by U.S. police departments, but approval pending - International Herald Tribune: "MIAMI: The Miami police could soon use cutting-edge flying drones to help fight crime. A small pilotless vehicle manufactured by Honeywell International, capable of hovering and 'staring' using electro-optic or infrared sensors, is expected to be introduced soon in the skies over the Florida Everglades. If use of the drone wins U.S. Federal Aviation Administration approval after tests, the Miami-Dade Police Department will start flying the 14 pound, or 6.35 kilogram, drone over urban areas with an eye toward full-fledged employment in crime fighting."
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Sometimes I wonder if the US is becoming one big gated community. I am a big advocate of police protection and aggressive crime fighting, but I prefer to see policing efforts focused on crooks rather than everybody who happens to be walking or driving down the street. You know, kind of like the 4th Amendment says? Probable cause, reasonable suspicion, and all that antiquated 18th century stuff about being innocent until proven guilty? Now the argument seems to be that if you object to being searched or spied on you must have something to hide. Of course, in a sense a flying drone is somewhat like a strolling police officer who walks around surveying the public realm, which in principle isn't anything new or bad at all. But the potential for abuse using electronic surveillance from above--where you can see into places no police officer on the beat ever could--is pretty substantial.