WWTBAM Bored

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 planes' surveillance equipment is generally used without a judge's approval,

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,

But the planes can capture video of unrelated criminal activity on the ground that could be handed over for prosecutions.

Some of the aircraft can also be equipped with technology that can identify thousands of people below through the cellphones they carry, even if they're not making a call or in public. Officials said that practice, which mimics cell towers and gets phones to reveal basic subscriber information, is rare.

Details confirmed by the FBI track closely with published reports since at least 2003 that a government surveillance program might be behind suspicious-looking planes slowly circling neighborhoods.

The planes' surveillance equipment is generally used without a judge's approval, and the FBI said the flights are used for specific, ongoing investigations.

"The FBI's aviation program is not secret," spokesman Christopher Allen said in a statement. "Specific aircraft and their capabilities are protected for operational security purposes." Allen added that the FBI's planes "are not equipped, designed or used for bulk collection activities or mass surveillance."

Bob Juch wrote:From that article:

The planes' surveillance equipment is generally used without a judge's approval, and the FBI said the flights are used for specific, ongoing investigations.

"The FBI's aviation program is not secret," spokesman Christopher Allen said in a statement. "Specific aircraft and their capabilities are protected for operational security purposes." Allen added that the FBI's planes "are not equipped, designed or used for bulk collection activities or mass surveillance."

BackInTex wrote:And the hits just keep on coming folks.

Secret tests on the entire civilian population of San Francisco

Yep, if you suspect the government may be up to no good, or even just want to make sure everything is on the up and up (i.e. trust but verify), you are a lunatic. Go on about your daily business. Ignore them.

Bob78164 wrote:You do realize that this experiment was conducted 65 years ago. I think we've gotten better about civil liberties since then. --Bob

Bob78164 wrote: You do realize that this experiment was conducted 65 years ago. I think we've gotten better about civil liberties since then. --Bob

BackInTex wrote:

Bob78164 wrote:You do realize that this experiment was conducted 65 years ago. I think we've gotten better about civil liberties since then. --Bob

I know the timeline. I believe you are wrong about the civil liberties. There may have been periods since that were improved, but the pendulum has swung back the other way. I think the government feels it can do whatever it wants to in the name of "protecting or providing for the citizens".

Bob Juch wrote:Are you going to be one of the Jade Helm monitors?