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Maps Showing Where FBI Planes Are Watching from Above

buzzfeed.com

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Re: Maps Showing Where FBI Planes Are Watching from Above

#81

Post by insickness »

I have to say, I'm really not against this. I used to read about privacy people getting pissed at all the CCTV surveillance in London, etc. And it concerned me.

But then I got into photography. And in that case, police were trying to trample on the rights of photographers. But the main idea is that photographers are allowed to photograph pretty much anywhere in public. And I agree with this. You can't make laws forbidding photographing a particular building, for example.

That got me thinking, if we can't forbid citizens from photographing in public, why should we forbid our government? In fact, when crimes happen, most of the time these days, video surveillance is a huge help.

If that data were made publicly accessible, would it be a problem that it was being recorded? What are the drawbacks of public surveillance?

Re: Maps Showing Where FBI Planes Are Watching from Above

#82

Post by neurotech1 »

knz wrote: post #79
rdtsc wrote: post #76

Earlier quoted context omitted.

How would traffic controllers handle them over US or busy cities? Just see them on radar, would they know that this object is not someone drone? Or would they rely on matching with a flight plan and expect it.

I work at a large airport near where these operations have occurred. From what I understand the local FAA office is well aware of them. I've been told "Don't ask" when we see unusual flight patterns. Commercial aircraft tend to follow well established patterns (STARs and SIDs etc) near major airports. As long as these flights stay below certain altitudes and away from the arrival and departure paths I don't think it…

As long as these flights stay below certain altitudes and away from the arrival and departure paths I don't think it would be a big deal for ATC.

Exactly. Police helicopters fly low enough that unless they are on the final approach or departure path, its not a big deal.

Its a common misconception that because news helicopters following the chase are denied clearance to fly near an airport, the same would apply to the police helicopters.

Re: Maps Showing Where FBI Planes Are Watching from Above

#83

Post by ryanmonroe »

insickness wrote: post #81

I have to say, I'm really not against this. I used to read about privacy people getting pissed at all the CCTV surveillance in London, etc. And it concerned me. But then I got into photography. And in that case, police were trying to trample on the rights of photographers. But the main idea is that photographers are allowed to photograph pretty much anywhere in public. And I agree with this. You can't make laws forbi…

>if we can't forbid citizens from photographing in public, why should we forbid our government?

I don't understand this comparison. The very fact that the surveillance is being done by the government changes the meaning of the action. Citizens don't have the power to do anything with the information they might gather through surveillance. Citizens don't have the ability to force all other citizens to pay them more money for funding surveillance programs of ever-increasing scope. Citizens have jobs which exist to serve a real need that exists in the economy, and so realistically wouldn't be doing anything of the same magnitude unless there was popular demand for it.

Re: Maps Showing Where FBI Planes Are Watching from Above

#84

Post by hoorayimhelping »

prawn wrote: post #48
capote wrote: post #42

I really wish this weren't on Buzzfeed.

Why? They're putting out more and more quality material, and it could be argued that they're getting interesting topics in front of a broader audience.

The comments are saying that this is largely derivative of someone else's work.

Re: Maps Showing Where FBI Planes Are Watching from Above

#85

Post by rdtsc »

knz wrote: post #79
rdtsc wrote: post #76

Earlier quoted context omitted.

How would traffic controllers handle them over US or busy cities? Just see them on radar, would they know that this object is not someone drone? Or would they rely on matching with a flight plan and expect it.

I work at a large airport near where these operations have occurred. From what I understand the local FAA office is well aware of them. I've been told "Don't ask" when we see unusual flight patterns. Commercial aircraft tend to follow well established patterns (STARs and SIDs etc) near major airports. As long as these flights stay below certain altitudes and away from the arrival and departure paths I don't think it…

Oh ok, makes sense. Thanks for explaining

Re: Maps Showing Where FBI Planes Are Watching from Above

#86

Post by jessaustin »

carbocation wrote: post #63
danielrhodes wrote: post #50

Here's my guess based on the following info: - The article points out that the planes are typically only seen M-F, which suggests that what they are doing is usually not time-sensitive. - They mention the planes have a very high quality camera on board. - From the flight patterns, you can see they repeatedly circle the same location, but not apparently for hours and hours at time. When Apple first released their Maps…

Using FLIR for drug growing detection requires a warrant.

So they're using it for some other purpose. It's just a coincidence that all growers on the flight path have been busted via "anonymous tips".

Re: Maps Showing Where FBI Planes Are Watching from Above

#87

Post by duaneb »

insickness wrote: post #81

I have to say, I'm really not against this. I used to read about privacy people getting pissed at all the CCTV surveillance in London, etc. And it concerned me. But then I got into photography. And in that case, police were trying to trample on the rights of photographers. But the main idea is that photographers are allowed to photograph pretty much anywhere in public. And I agree with this. You can't make laws forbi…

If you followed someone around taking photographs of them, it would be stalking. I don't understand how it's any better when the police do it.

Re: Maps Showing Where FBI Planes Are Watching from Above

#88

Post by pavel_lishin »

jessaustin wrote: post #86
carbocation wrote: post #63

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Using FLIR for drug growing detection requires a warrant.

So they're using it for some other purpose. It's just a coincidence that all growers on the flight path have been busted via "anonymous tips".

I assume that the 'coincidence' you mention is just hypothetical, but that would be a pretty interesting topic to research.

Re: Maps Showing Where FBI Planes Are Watching from Above

#89

Post by pavel_lishin »

insickness wrote: post #81

I have to say, I'm really not against this. I used to read about privacy people getting pissed at all the CCTV surveillance in London, etc. And it concerned me. But then I got into photography. And in that case, police were trying to trample on the rights of photographers. But the main idea is that photographers are allowed to photograph pretty much anywhere in public. And I agree with this. You can't make laws forbi…

Citizens can't build a case against other citizens based on their photos. They also can't photograph tens of thousands of other citizens, tracking their exact locations and movements over hours and days.

We should forbid our government because they have power, and it ought to be limited.

Re: Maps Showing Where FBI Planes Are Watching from Above

#90

Post by repiret »

Razengan wrote: post #71
danielrhodes wrote: post #50

Here's my guess based on the following info: - The article points out that the planes are typically only seen M-F, which suggests that what they are doing is usually not time-sensitive. - They mention the planes have a very high quality camera on board. - From the flight patterns, you can see they repeatedly circle the same location, but not apparently for hours and hours at time. When Apple first released their Maps…

Can't balloons or drones be used instead of planes? I can't imagine their fuel must be cheap. Who pays for all this and what are they getting?

I'm sure they will eventually. Right now we're in the very early days of unmanned and manned aircraft sharing the national airspace system, and its still administratively easier to use a manned aircraft. But I'm sure in 10 years they'll be a ton of surveillance drones.
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