Welcome to DU!
The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards.
Join the community:
Create a free account
Support DU (and get rid of ads!):
Become a Star Member
Latest Breaking News
General Discussion
The DU Lounge
All Forums
Issue Forums
Culture Forums
Alliance Forums
Region Forums
Support Forums
Help & Search
Economy
In reply to the discussion: STOCK MARKET WATCH -- Wednesday, 21 November 2012 [View all]Demeter
(85,373 posts)15. DRONES: Privacy Death Stars Approved By Congress FEBRUARY
http://gawker.com/5883178/privacy-death-stars-approved-by-congress
Today, it is tricky for governments and corporations to constantly spy on people using drones. By 2015, it wil be much much easier, thanks to a Monday Congressional vote authorizing drones above 400 feet, in the same airspace as commercial airliners.
At last, we can be monitored around the clock by high-altitude Privacy Death Stars.
The Senate voted 75-20 Monday to approve an aviation overhaul bill that previously cleared the House and is now headed for the president's signature. Along with modernizing air traffic control to use GPS, it allows drones to go way up high where they can more easily loiter over and observe the highly suspect citizenry of this country. Says the Chicago Trib:
This opens up the possibility for an exciting LIVE version of Google Street View, as Forbes' Kashmir Hill points out, or for that private Facebook Air Force we warned you about at the close of 2011.
Right. That's the point.
Today, it is tricky for governments and corporations to constantly spy on people using drones. By 2015, it wil be much much easier, thanks to a Monday Congressional vote authorizing drones above 400 feet, in the same airspace as commercial airliners.
At last, we can be monitored around the clock by high-altitude Privacy Death Stars.
The Senate voted 75-20 Monday to approve an aviation overhaul bill that previously cleared the House and is now headed for the president's signature. Along with modernizing air traffic control to use GPS, it allows drones to go way up high where they can more easily loiter over and observe the highly suspect citizenry of this country. Says the Chicago Trib:
The FAA is... required under the bill to provide military, commercial and privately-owned drones with expanded access to U.S. airspace currently reserved for manned aircraft by Sept. 30, 2015. That means permitting unmanned drones controlled by remote operators on the ground to fly in the same airspace as airliners, cargo planes, business jets and private aircraft.
This opens up the possibility for an exciting LIVE version of Google Street View, as Forbes' Kashmir Hill points out, or for that private Facebook Air Force we warned you about at the close of 2011.
As the ACLU said before passage,"This bill would push the nation willy-nilly toward an era of aerial surveillance without any steps to protect the traditional privacy that Americans have always enjoyed and expected."
Right. That's the point.
Edit history
Please sign in to view edit histories.
63 replies
= new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight:
NoneDon't highlight anything
5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
RecommendedHighlight replies with 5 or more recommendations
YET ANOTHER FOR THE WALL OF SHAME: Ex-hedge fund manager Mathew Martoma accused of insider trading
Demeter
Nov 2012
#13
Some U.S. banks awash in ID theft tax-fraud proceeds as IRS cracks down FEBRUARY
Demeter
Nov 2012
#17
I think the union's back would have been to the wall under any leadership
bread_and_roses
Nov 2012
#59