Posted on 06/02/2015 6:05:32 AM PDT by KeyLargo
The FBI is operating a small air force to spy on Americans
Associated Press
Jack Gillum, Eileen Sullivan and Eric Tucker, Associated Press
Jun. 2, 2015,
WASHINGTON (AP) — The FBI is operating a small air force with scores of low-flying planes across the country carrying video and, at times, cellphone surveillance technology — all hidden behind fictitious companies that are fronts for the government, The Associated Press has learned.
The planes' surveillance equipment is generally used without a judge's approval, and the FBI said the flights are used for specific, ongoing investigations. In a recent 30-day period, the agency flew above more than 30 cities in 11 states across the country, an AP review found.
Aerial surveillance represents a changing frontier for law enforcement, providing what the government maintains is an important tool in criminal, terrorism or intelligence probes. But the program raises questions about whether there should be updated policies protecting civil liberties as new technologies pose intrusive opportunities for government spying.
U.S. law enforcement officials confirmed for the first time the wide-scale use of the aircraft, which the AP traced to at least 13 fake companies, such as FVX Research, KQM Aviation, NBR Aviation and PXW Services. Even basic aspects of the program are withheld from the public in censored versions of official reports from the Justice Department's inspector general.
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.
(Excerpt) Read more at businessinsider.com ...
In this photo taken May 26, 2015, a small plane flies near Manassas Regional Airport in Manassas, Va. The plane is among a fleet of surveillance aircraft by the FBI, which are primarily used to target suspects under federal investigation. Such planes are capable of taking video of the ground, and some - in rare occasions - can sweep up certain identifying cellphone data.
Bookmark
Well heck yeah. You and I both know we can’t be trusted. :>}
Define “small” in this instance.
Random Act of Journalism Ping.
The bureaucracy seems intent on getting Rand Paul elected our next POTUS.
Alleged Government Surveillance In Baltimore Has Citizens Questioning The Secrecy Behind It
Josephine B. Yurcaba
@JoYurcaba
4 weeks ago News
Benjamin Shayne told The Washington Post that he was sitting in his backyard Saturday night, when he first saw a plane making small loops over the part of Baltimore where rioting took place a few days earlier as a response to the death of Freddie Gray. Shayne tweeted his confusion and received a reply from fellow Baltimore citizen Pete Cimbolic, who linked the Federal Aviation Administration’s website, which said the plane was registered to NG Research, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation later confirmed to the Post it had provided aircraft to the Baltimore Police Department, though it wouldn’t comment on the exact flights. The American Civil Liberties Union has since accused the government of carrying out secret surveillance over Baltimore, according to the Post, “during a period of historic political protest and unrest.” The FBI did not immediately respond to Bustle’s request for comment.
Sounds like they might be gathering data on those right wing political groups that have been causing so much trouble.
The surprise is that AP is reporting this. On the other hand, since AP is part of the problem, there’s probably a reason this information was allowed to be ‘leaked’ at this time.
“Well heck yeah. You and I both know we can’t be trusted. :>}”
Yep,
I think that you and I are the only ones concerned......
Wait, I think I hear something buzzing outside!
Poll: 6 in 10 back renewal of NSA data collection
By Sharon Song Published: June 1, 2015
http://kron4.com/2015/06/01/poll-6-in-10-back-renewal-of-nsa-data-collection/
You must mean the ones that caused all the problems in ferguson MO and B’more MD?
Cardboard cutouts in the window always fools them though.
Does The FBI Have A Fleet Of Surveillance Cessnas?
Almost all of the 182Ts belonging to the various three-letter acronym companies with Bristow box offices are 2010 models and if they were all purchased in 2010 they represent more than a third of Cessna's Skylane sales that year. According to General Aviation Manufacturing Association data, Cessna recorded 27 182 sales in the fourth quarter of 2010 compared to a combined total of 37 in the rest of the year. The FAA registry says the acronym companies also have at least one 2011 182T, a 2009 model and a few 210s and 206s.
Like this? 
At no point in history has any government ever wanted its people to be defenseless for any good reason ~ nully's son
Nut-job Conspiracy Theory Ping!
To get onto The Nut-job Conspiracy Theory Ping List you must threaten to report me to the Mods if I don't add you to the list...
That ought to do it.
I wonder if this is why there was an increase in
‘Green laser’ stories on the radio, last week?
We are so screwed.
AVIATION PING
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.