"Specific aircraft and their capabilities are protected for operational security purposes." [Christopher] Allen [FBI Spokesman] added that the FBI's planes "are not equipped, designed or used for bulk collection activities or mass surveillance."
But the planes can capture video of unrelated criminal activity on the ground that could be handed over for prosecutions.
Some of the aircraft can also be equipped with technology that can identify thousands of people below through the cellphones they carry, even if they're not making a call or in public. Officials said that practice, which mimics cell towers and gets phones to reveal basic subscriber information, is rare.
Details confirmed by the FBI track closely with published reports since at least 2003 that a government surveillance program might be behind suspicious-looking planes slowly circling neighborhoods. The AP traced at least 50 aircraft back to the FBI, and identified more than 100 flights since late April orbiting both major cities and rural areas.
One of the planes, photographed in flight last week by the AP in northern Virginia, bristled with unusual antennas under its fuselage and a camera on its left side. A federal budget document from 2010 mentioned at least 115 planes, including 90 Cessna aircraft, in the FBI's surveillance fleet.
Wait until Rand Paul finds out about this.
6 comments:
This us a regular occurrence over my neighborhood. Doesn't bother me a bit. A while ago when we had horses out in "Klan Country" it was also common, for good reason. Didn't bother me then either.
Running an undercover operation in a particular case is one thing. Running a nationwide undercover scheme complete with false front businesses, fake signatures, secret technology, and public denials is something else. The government, as currently constituted, does not deserve out trust.
Back in the day I could hover in my old Aeronca 7AC, in a good wind.
Turns going backwards work the opposite from turns in a car going backwards, by the way.
I'm surprised they're not using those old efficient slow aircraft.
And people are worried about Jade Helm?
I think it is abundantly clear that the US government is now the enemy of it's citizens. I wonder who is going to lead the cause to eradicate this current constitutional republic and replace it with a new one because this one is beyond fixing. It will be hell for a while I imagine if it ever comes to fruition, but once the shit settles down and people work out a way to oversee the founders intents for a real constitutional republic that eliminates the political class, then we might have something. Personally I'd opt to shoot them all in the head now and put in people that will actually make a fucking difference and start ratcheting government back a bit. Say by at least 33%.
I'd pray for Christ to do the dirty work, but I think he has other pressing matters to attend to. However, I'll take a super-being of immortal and invulnerable abilities to do it.
Methadras ... say by 50%, and 85% for the layer of senior bureaucrats, appointees all, who come to DC as twenty-somethings and never leave. Elect whom you wish, the bureaucrats still run things. Who you elect can only make it worse. Let us find one who can actually cut the executive branch by at least 50%. Those with no real work to do providing services can only sit around and dream up new "rules" rather than actually produce anything. I've been there.
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