Drone Camera Tornado Coverage Raises Press Freedom Questions

retroworks (652802) writes "In the latest tornado and storm tragedy to hit the U.S.'s south and midwest, small drone cameras steered by storm-tracker and videographer Brian Emfinger gathered stunning bird's-eye footage of the wreckage. Forbes magazine covers the [paywalled] Arkansas Democrat-Gazette's speculation that Emfinger has violated FAA rules which prohibit commercial use of small drones. The laws, designed years ago to restrict hobbyists use of model airplanes, may conflict with U.S. First Amendment free press use. So far, nothing in the article says that the FAA is enforcing the rule on the media outlets that may pay Emfinger for his video coverage, but interest in the footage will probably create a business economy for future commercial drone use if the FAA does not act."

Comments

Just think of all the damage

[hsmith]

The drone could have done if it crashed while filming a tornado. The deviation would be catastrophic

Re:Storm chasers and drones

[Russ1642]

Leaving something in the path of a tornado is very very very difficult. There was a documentary about doing that called Twister.