The FBI is operating a small air force to spy on Americans

[James48]

Source: Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) — 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.



Read more: http://www.businessinsider.com/the-fbi-is-reportedly-operating-a-small-air-force-to-monitor-americans-2015-6#ixzz3buTvoqOC

Read more: http://www.businessinsider.com/the-fbi-is-reportedly-operating-a-small-air-force-to-monitor-americans-2015-6

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Whatever happened to the 4th Amendment?

[James48]

1. Image

[MicaelS]

37. Damn, they're flying some of these things barely above stall speed.

Stall speed is 49 knots.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cessna_182

Performance

Never exceed speed: 175 knots (201 mph, 324 km/h)
Maximum speed: 150 knots (173 mph, 278 km/h)
Cruise speed: 145 knots (167 mph, 269 km/h)
Stall speed: 49 knots (56 mph, 91 km/h)
Range: 930 nmi (1,070 mi, 1,722 km)
Service ceiling: 18,100 ft (5,517 m)

[peacebird]

2. How is this legal?

[hack89]

5. The same way following a suspect in a car is legal

no expectation of privacy in a public area.

[Rossi]

20. Wrong.

I have a reasonable expectation of privacy in my back yard with an 8 foot fence around it.

[hack89]

22. The courts have never interpreted aerial surveillance as a search per the 4A

so the reasonable expectation of privacy standard is does not apply. This issue has been adjudicated many times.

United States vs Allen is a good and recent example of the current legal reasoning:

https://casetext.com/case/united-states-v-allen-17

I am not saying it is good law. Just saying that it is the current interpretation.

[Rossi]

27. They need a warrant.

From your own citation:

Law enforcement agencies should not have carte blanche power to conduct indiscriminate surveillance for unlimited periods of time of varying number of individuals. Our conclusion as to the property of the installation and use of the transponder in this case is predicated upon [the fact that] here the officers, prior to the installation, had been given reliable information . . . that the plane was being utilized in the pursuit of criminal activity."

[hack89]

30. No, they don't in most cases

they didn't need one in the case I cited. If the cops can link the search to a specific suspect(s) or a specific criminal act then they do not need warrants. They also do not need a warrant if, when flying over your house on a routine flight they see something incriminating in your backyard. The courts have ruled that planes flying overhead are a fact of modern life.

[snort]

31. No shit.

Not much point in an 8' fence if your neighbor can just stare at you with a periscope.

[MADem]

35. Or from an upper floor of a neighboring house.

I can see 5 fenced yards from upstairs in my joint.

Nowadays fences are to keep little kids in, more than any thing else. And dogs...no free-range anything these days.

[think]

7. The DOJ says that unmanned drones can't spy on 1st amendment activities but piloted planes can

From the article:

A Justice Department memo last month also expressly barred its component law enforcement agencies from using unmanned drones "solely for the purpose of monitoring activities protected by the First Amendment" and said they are to be used only in connection with authorized investigations and activities. A department spokeswoman said the policy applied only to unmanned aircraft systems rather than piloted airplanes.

Read more: http://www.businessinsider.com/the-fbi-is-reportedly-operating-a-small-air-force-to-monitor-americans-2015-6#ixzz3buWIXWef

[hobbit709]

3. Time to paint a huge middle finger on the roof.

[csziggy]

41. Reminds me of a book I used to own

A man inherited the family home, only to find that it was on the flight path for a major airport. After a lot of legal wrangling his recourse was to fly a blimp over his property. The idea was that he owned the airspace above his property and had never sold or leased it to the airlines or the government for their use.

It's got to be forty or more years since I read the book so I probably have some details wrong. Plus, any legal basis for the premise would be long outdated. But the book was funny as hell - I just wish I could remember the title!

[cstanleytech]

4. The 4th doesnt apply to in plain or in this case "plane" sight, the court settled that long ago.

[peacebird]

6. So if I am on my property they can fly over and spy on me legally? Mind you, I have 5 acres....

And only the meadow is visible from our road

[jberryhill]

12. As can any private pilot

If it is legal to fly somewhere, it is legal to look down. That goes for the FBI or anyone else.


Dow Chemical Co. v. United States
476 U.S. 227 (1986)
https://supreme.justia.com/cases/federal/us/476/227/case.html

[peacebird]

13. Legal to look down with stingray and other hightech recording devices?

That is clearly a section of the law that needs some updating....

[Kelvin Mace]

23. A pilot looking down does not have the ability to intercept

my phone calls and internet feeds.

[cstanleytech]

14. If your out in the open its fair game the courts ruled that long ago

so I really dont recommend having sex outside on the lawn besides it might scare the neighbors...................I know if I did that it would scare mine.

[hack89]

24. Yes. Here is a ruling that would apply to your situation

https://casetext.com/case/united-states-v-allen-17

[peacebird]

29. Good thing I only raise bees, chickens, berries, apples, and veggies.....

[Dont call me Shirley]

34. Careful, you might be seen as a radical by the "mainstream monsanto-biostitutes"

[octoberlib]

8. They're also equipped with Stingrays.

Evolving technology can record higher-quality video from long distances, even at night, and can capture certain identifying information from cellphones using a device known as a "cell-site simulator" — or Stingray, to use one of the product's brand names. These can trick pinpointed cellphones into revealing identification numbers of subscribers, including those not suspected of a crime.

Officials say cellphone surveillance is rare, although the AP found in recent weeks FBI flights orbiting large, enclosed buildings for extended periods where aerial photography would be less effective than electronic signals collection. Those included above Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport and the Mall of America in Bloomington, Minnesota.
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/breaking/ct-secret-fbi-flights-20150602-story.html#page=1

[sarcasmo]

9. Maybe this will be a plot line on Person OF Interest next year?

You are being watched.

[James48]

10. nt

[Baitball Blogger]

11. Someone has been using helicopter fly-overs for some time now.

I assume they're not using anything that radiates into our homes that can harm us, but, you never know. We once had a can of shaving cream that just unloaded its contents for no reason at all. I'm sure that happens on its own, but, still, weird.

But, this kind of power is very disconcerting when you stop and consider that the FBI is very aware of the racist environments that many of us live in and I really doubt that their flyovers have anything to do with protecting our interests.

Though, I did see something that made me wonder. I was walking out to the parking lot and there was a helicopter doing his thing and the Anglo-American in front of me seemed to be more paranoid than I was! The guy was dressed in preppy casual, older man, and he stopped behind a car to look anxiously up at the chopper. I thought to myself, "nice way to stand out in a crowd."

[Jackpine Radical]

18. VN vet having a flashback?

I know the sound of a Huey still provokes a reaction in me.

[Baitball Blogger]

19. Could be.

I did see a Vietnam vet lose it many, many years ago. It was at a Fourth of July celebration and we were all walking to the event grounds when some guy jumped the fence running in the opposite direction. "Run!" he shouted at us. "They're coming for us. I mean it!"

Poor guy. I didn't see the helicopter until he had long disappeared behind the parked cars.

[Spitfire of ATJ]

15. I bet the Freepers are flipping out over this!

"Obama's comin' for us!!! Told ya'all he was after our gunz!!! Buy more bullets!!! Bar yer wind'ers!!! Lock up yer dawg!!!"

"BTW: Wanna buy some meth?"

[Jesus Malverde]

26. The FEDS have a much longer history of messing with the left than the right.

You think the FBI is a liberal bunch?



JM

[Spitfire of ATJ]

32. The Freepers used to applaud Dubya when the cops kicked in the doors of anti-war protesters....

They believe cops are supposed to serve as political stormtroopers.

[FiveGoodMen]

39. Insofar as he's supported surveillance and gone after the whistle-blowers who've exposed it

They'd actually be about right with, "Obama's coming for us"

Laugh all you want.

[Spitfire of ATJ]

40. That's about like those banner ads asking, "Should the GOP stop Obama from taking our guns?"

[jtuck004]

16. Unless you have the invisible magic bank$ter/donor shield. Then they can't see you. n/t

[underpants]

17. It's bikini season

[Taitertots]

21. Par for the course in police state USA.

If you're not rich, you're just another potential terrorist.

[Jesus Malverde]

25. Sounds like their testing some awesome kickass

Surveillance equipment.

A-holes

[Kablooie]

28. If I'm nude in my backyard can they be charged with voyeurism?

Though considering the condition of my body it might be hard to prove.

[valerief]

33. Oligarchs can only count to three. nt

[dbackjon]

36. It isn't the 2nd Amendment - which is the only one that matters

[Historic NY]

38. So is Google....

from cars to space.....someone is always watching.

[Blue_Tires]

42. People are just NOW finding out

The FBI employs aerial surveillance? Has nobody ever watched 'Casino'?

More general info here: http://www2.fbi.gov/publications/leb/2009/november2009/legal_digest.htm

[bobthedrummer]

43. FBI Sky Spies:Domestic Aerial Surveillance Aircraft Master-List (MinneapolisSam via 6-2-15 Cryptome)

http://cryptome.org/2015/06/fbi-sky-spies.htm

K&R

[Vinca]

44. This is creepy.

I remember a few years ago I was outside working in the yard in our rural area and suddenly the automatic garage doors started going up and down on their own. I never did find out what caused it . . . feebees?

[DavidDvorkin]

45. Eventually, the spy vehicles will be too small to be visible

That's the inevitable result.

http://dvorkin.com/dn/

[Jesus Malverde]

46. I installed the flightradar24 app

It's amazing. Beautiful interface and very fun.

Highly recommended.

http://www.flightradar24.com