FBI operating fleet of surveillance aircraft flying over US cities

Re:FBI operating fleet of surveillance aircraft flying over ... by thoward on Tuesday June 02, 2015 @03:31PM (#9648356)

To me it makes sense that the FBI needs a fleet of surveillance planes for investigations. It also makes sense that these aircraft carry civilian livery to be low-profile (same idea as an unmarked pursuit car).

What seems f-ked up are the shell companies. Why not come out and say "we have surveillance planes; we need them for investigations; here's how much money we've allocated in our budget to operate them."

The FBI shouldn't need to hide this.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:FBI operating fleet of surveillance aircraft flying over ... by jjwiseman on Tuesday June 02, 2015 @03:36PM (#9648380)

The FBI using front companies for aerial surveillance of suspects seems fine to me; That's just doing their job of criminal investigation.

The worrying part is seeing their planes overhead for hours at a time, which looks more like potential persistent surveillance, or a dragnet that sweeps up hundreds or thousands of people into whatever video/cellphone recording they're doing.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:FBI operating fleet of surveillance aircraft flying over ... by pdkl95 on Tuesday June 02, 2015 @04:10PM (#9648595)

> doing their job of criminal investigation

That hasn't been the FBI's job for some time now. They joined the "intelligence community" club and now claim is now about "national security".

http://foreignpolicy.com/2014/01/05/fbi-drops-law-enforcemen...

So why is it necessary to fly spy planes domestically to protect "national security". That would imply we've already been invaded... or their purpose is something else entirely.

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Re:FBI operating fleet of surveillance aircraft flying over ... by tedunangst on Tuesday June 02, 2015 @04:22PM (#9648677)

Having a primary function doesn't mean they don't have other functions as well, such as criminal investigations.

[ Parent | on HN ]