Tuesday, December 13, 2011

North Dakota: First Known Use of a Drone During the Arrest of a U.S. Citizen



Several newspapers, to include the Minneapolis Star Tribune, recently reported on an event that took place in eastern North Dakota in late June 2011.  Specifically, for the first time inside the borders of the United States, a Predator drone was used for surveillance during the arrest of three U.S. citizens.  Go here to read the article as printed in the LA Times on December 10, 2011.


Comment: Here's yet another controversy when it comes to privacy and the Geospatial Revolution - and our failure as a nation to consider where things are headed before we get there.  On one side are those who believe law enforcement drones are a much greater violation of personal privacy than is the case with observation airplanes.  On the other, are those who see drones as nothing more than better technology that will make law enforcement easier and safer.  Debaters, start your engines.

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