Drones: Who's watching you read this article?

(Ready or not, here they come...)

The old joke, “I’m not paranoid, they really do hate me,” can now be modified to “I’m not paranoid, they really are watching me.”

The Christian Science Monitor recently reported, “By some government estimates, as many as 30,000 drones could be part of intelligence gathering and law enforcement here in the United States within the next ten years.”  Would these be run by the military?  Not necessarily!  They would be “operated by agencies down to the local level,” and would be “in addition to the 110 current and planned drone activity sites run by the military services in 39 states…”

Are you thinking that there are privacy laws to protect the average citizen from such intrusion?  The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) isn’t.  It reported that the existing privacy laws “are not strong enough to ensure that the new technology will be used responsibly and consistently with democratic values.”  Translation:  “You better watch out, you better not cry, you better not pout, I’m telling you why…”  (And this time around, it’s not just Santa who’s making a list…)

On the other hand, The Christian Science Monitor has also reported some benefits to these droning privacy-invaders.  In an article proclaiming that “drones can save the earth,” the example of Patrick Egan is given.  Egan, who makes a pretty penny (reportedly up to $1,992.50 per hour above and beyond minimum wage) locating irrigation leaks for farmers via drone photography, states that organic farmers are clamoring for his services. 

So if you’re nice, just keep it up.  And if you’re naughty, God knows your every move anyway (which might be something to really worry about)…

 Resources

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/47846841/ns/us_news-christian_science_monitor/

http://www.csmonitor.com/Business/Green-Economics/2012/0225/Social-networking-and-drones-can-save-the-earth

Copyright July 5, 2012 by Linda Van Slyke   All Rights Reserved