Civil Liberties
Related: About this forumTaking down drones with eagles
I saw my first drone yesterday. It was hovering over homes alongside a major highway. I don't have a particularly large property, but it is mine and the only things I want spying on my from above are the birds waiting for me to refill their feeders. This article from the NY Times made me smile at the thought of an eagle swooping down on somebody's drone. I understand that our property rights can't extend up to space. However, am I the only person disturbed by the thought of having a drone watching me while I water my tomatoes? Can a stalker have a drone hovering over his victim's yard? Does someone's right to a toy override our right to privacy on our property?
http://www.nytimes.com/2016/05/29/world/europe/drones-eagles.html?smprod=nytcore-iphone&smid=nytcore-iphone-share NYTimes: Dutch Firm Trains Eagles to Take Down High-Tech Prey: Drones
Bayard
(24,145 posts)Other than the same people getting a kick from flying model planes, drones seem to be causing nothing but trouble. Oh yeah, you may get your package delivered faster by one from Amazon, but not worth it.
I don't see where the eagles would be real practical. And they're only going to hunt around big open spaces.
elljay
(1,178 posts)but it sure would be fun to see!
X_Digger
(18,585 posts)Something is legal until some law makes it illegal, it's not illegal until some law makes it legal.
jmowreader
(51,406 posts)If someone takes out a drone that's videotaping through their bathroom window, it's the same crime as someone who shoots down a 747.
So what is your remedy? Rhetorical question- can't see how you would have one unless you already know whose drone it is! Realistically, I am unlikely to be subjected to such spying. However, I was a prosecutor for a number of years and had the displeasure of encountering pedophiles, stalkers and some very seriously disturbed individuals. I shudder at the thought of a pedophile or future serial killer stalking potential victims with a drone.
jmowreader
(51,406 posts)If you DON'T call these things aircraft the FAA has no jurisdiction over them...so if some asshole decides his idea of fun is to play chicken with Cessnas and cause a few crashes, the feds can't do anything to him. But if you DO call them aircraft you can't legally shoot the damn things down with a bean bag gun or a net launcher. And our worthless fucking Congress won't do anything; Republicans would rather let the whole world explode than pass any kind of regulation.