FBI Confirms Wide-Scale Use Of Surveillance Flights Over U.S. Cities

[cali]

- The FBI is operating a small air force with scores of low-flying planes across the U.S. 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.

The FBI 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.

<snip>

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 AP traced at least 50 aircraft back to the FBI, and identified more than 100 flights since late April orbiting both major cities and rural areas.

<snip>

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/06/02/fbi-surveillance-flights_n_7490396.html

It's Orwell's once imaginary world now.

[marmar]

1. k/r

[tblue37]

2. KnR. nt

[MannyGoldstein]

3. Operation Spy On Everyone™ continues

Thank goodness.

[grasswire]

4. Orwell was an optimist. nt

[truebrit71]

6. The only thing he got wrong was the year...

n/t

[grasswire]

5. I want to know the demographics of these surveilled areas.

What is the search criteria? Muslim communities? Black communities? 1%rs?

Let's have the data.

Thanks to AP for this important news.

[nadinbrzezinski]

7. I am betting I can tell

minority communities in the inner core. Anywhere there is a mass of people marching around.

Yes, I am jaded.

[grasswire]

8. as am I, Nadin

But our cynicism is rooted in probability.

[nadinbrzezinski]

9. Yup, yesterday we actually smiled to the camera

at the consulate

HI

[LordGlenconner]

10. I hear they are at airports, train stations

And sometimes at comic book conventions and other large events where people congregate.

[nadinbrzezinski]

12. Well Homeland Security does park across Comicon

we even have the photos. First year it took them a while to move. Last year, they do have briefs, including photos before events. they moved as soon as they saw us.

I even posted then two years ago, and got a bunch of crap from people who are so enamored with things... oh well.

I should foia my FBI file one of these days.

[zeemike]

16. I don't think there is a limit on it.

Anyone who might cause the PTB trouble is fair game...and collect it all in case you may need it in the future.
You can bet they have all the dirt on every politician or political leader to use if they get out of line...J Edgar Hoover did it way back when even before digital technology.

[Octafish]

11. Just as long as two don't love Big Brother...

...there's a chance.

[grasswire]

13. I need a smilie for "sardonic smile"

sadly

[Octafish]

17. This guy.

Dr. Gibarian of Solaris Station with a Visitor. His expression is that of a person who sees monsters. He has -- actual beings created by the Ocean Solaris, assembled from neutrinos shaped from images found in Gibarian's mind. It may be an attempt by the Ocean to "communicate" with the intruders from Earth studying its world.

[WinkyDink]

14. Surely (Don't call me...) this is just another crackpot Conspiracy Theory!

[cali]

15. What troubles me is how it doesn't trouble so many

We're a society of slowly boiled frogs.

[red dog 1]

18. K&R...Thanks for posting, cali

One of these bastards flew over our block today, at an altitude of about 1500 ft.
They fly around up there every day.
Shouldn't the FBI be out catching criminals, instead of harassing innocent citizens by "buzzing" their homes...for no reason?

COINTELPRO LIVES!