US Senator Warns Against Political Surveillance By Drone

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."'"

Comments

Isn't that cute

[Anonymous Coward]

She doesn't like it when it happens to her.

Re:Isn't that cute

[erikkemperman]

So Feinstein

urged senators to move swiftly to create "strong, binding enforceable privacy policies that govern drone operations before the technology is upon us.

This is such undiluted hypocrisy, given her reaction to the Snowden saga. It would be funny, if it was not so very sad.

Re:Isn't that cute

[k6mfw]

From Mad Magazine around 1970: When United States wants to know activities of other countries, we employ intelligence agents. When another country does the same to us, we accuse them of using spies.

Re:Isn't that cute

[operagost]

Just like her stance on gun control-- fine as long as she gets an exception.

She's the master of special pleading.

Re:Isn't that cute

[Vitriol Angst]

For politicos like Feinstein, their Party or their alleged philosophical beliefs are as illuminating to their decision process as the logos on a NASCAR jacket. She says whatever sounds the most reasonable and responsible and occasionally stamps her feet and waves her arms and does the least to trouble the status quo as possible.

Meanwhile she makes money investing in military related stocks, and builds a portfolio based on insider knowledge (as is legal for all Senators) and retires much wealthier than when she entered office. Rinse and repeat with the next political opportunist.

Re:Isn't that cute

[ShanghaiBill]

This is such undiluted hypocrisy, given her reaction to the Snowden saga. It would be funny, if it was not so very sad.

Very true. But I am still changing my will so I will be buried with my ice skates. Hell has frozen over. Diane Feinstein has finally found an expansion of government authoritarianism that she is unwilling to support. Wow.

Two sets of laws

[Dunbal]

But Ms Feinstein, surely if you have nothing to hide then you have nothing to fear?

Here It Comes Again

[some old guy]

1. Federal licensing and "oversight" for businesses = tax$

2. Exemptions for "national security" = hello FBI/TSA/NSA/DEA

3. Strong, enforceable privacy policy = Private use prohibited.

Watch for it.

DIFI

[Rich_Lather]

Orwell's pigs suddenly come to mind.

Re:Maybe...

[Chris Mattern]

No, she's got guns. She just doesn't want *you* to have them.

Re:Maybe...

[operagost]

She owns one... despite the fact that she consistently legislates against the 2nd amendment, and has her own security detail.

hypocrisy?

[ron_ivi]

It's not hypocracy if her position is consistantly that the elite and rich defense contractors (doesn't her husband own much of URS) are above the law, and everyone else must bow before them.

Her legislation could say "only senators, former senators, people with over $100 million, and defense contractors can use drones to spy on others" -- and it wouldn't be hypocracy. It'd just be evil.