US Senator Warns Against Political Surveillance By Drone 150
cold fjord writes "Politico reports, 'Sen. Dianne Feinstein says she once found a drone peeking into the window of her home — the kind of cautionary tale she wants lawmakers to consider as they look at allowing commercial drone use. ... she used the episode to implore lawmakers to "proceed with caution." Feinstein said she encountered the flying robot while a demonstration was taking place outside her house. She said she went to the window to peek out — and "there was a drone right there at the window looking out at me." ... "Obviously the pilot of the drone had some surprise because the drone wheeled around and crashed ..." she said. ... Feinstein, who chairs the Senate Intelligence Committee, said Wednesday that she has seen firsthand the surveillance capabilities of drones and called civilian privacy concerns "significant." She ... recommended a search warrant requirement. Feinstein said she is working on legislation with the Commerce Committee and urged senators to move swiftly to create "strong, binding enforceable privacy policies that govern drone operations before the technology is upon us."'"
She wasn't surveilled.... (Score:5, Informative)
... I don't see this covered in any of the mainstream media reports, but the 'drone' involved was a pink 'barbie' knockoff with no video capability. It's a $25 dollar think-geek type mini gyro. I'm amazed it made it to the 2nd floor window of a home outside. No wonder it crashed, those things have the stability of a paper airplane thrown into a fan.
Example of it:
http://www.amazon.com/33013-Concept-Alloy-Helicopter-Light/dp/B009VCHVJQ/ref=sr_1_3?s=toys-and-games&ie=UTF8&qid=1389974986&sr=1-3&keywords=pink+gyro [amazon.com]
Obviously the pilot couldn't see you because there's no cameras on it, so I doubt she was surprised you looked out the window....
They do that a lot.
The irony here is Feinstein over dramatization of this event given what she authorizes on the SIC. Using this incident to call for stricter drone laws is like being hit by a paper airplane and calling for the FAA to investigate.
Pictures. It Did Happen. (Score:3, Informative)
Here's a picture of the drone. [imgur.com] I really did happen. Teh drones is shocking!
Image taken from this video. [youtube.com]
Re: Maybe... (Score:4, Informative)
Well you may know that she issued one, and only one, concealed weapons permit while she was mayor of San Francisco -- to herself. Apparently out of all of San Francisco she believed she was the only civilian that could be trusted and deserved permission to carry a gun.
Please excuse me while I vomit...
BTW profanity does not enhance this discussion. It diverts attention from her disgusting behavior to yours.