[billn]

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has customized its Predator drones, originally built for overseas military operations, to carry out at-home surveillance tasks that have civil libertarians worried: identifying civilians carrying guns and tracking their cell phones, government documents show.

The documents provide more details about the surveillance capabilities of the department's unmanned Predator B drones, which are primarily used to patrol the United States' northern and southern borders but have been pressed into service on behalf of a growing number of law enforcement agencies including the FBI, the Secret Service, the Texas Rangers, and local police.

http://news.cnet.com/8301-13578_3-57...edator-drones/

[sns3guppy]

More paranoia-inducing nothingness.

Yes, during airborne ISR (intelligence) missions, identification of a person carrying a weapon is fairly simple. It's not at all the same as what the article insinuates. The article suggests that RPV aircraft will be spying on citizens, looking for their concealed weapons. Not so.

[RonS]

Don't worry, I am sure that the President has directed all parties involved that this technology is only to be used against Enemies of the State. You know, people who say mean things about him.

If I were Bob Woodward I'd be worried.

[RussP]

Originally Posted by billn

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has customized its Predator drones, originally built for overseas military operations, to carry out at-home surveillance tasks that have civil libertarians worried: identifying civilians carrying guns and tracking their cell phones, government documents show.

The documents provide more details about the surveillance capabilities of the department's unmanned Predator B drones, which are primarily used to patrol the United States' northern and southern borders but have been pressed into service on behalf of a growing number of law enforcement agencies including the FBI, the Secret Service, the Texas Rangers, and local police.

http://news.cnet.com/8301-13578_3-57...edator-drones/

From the actual spec requirements...

http://politechbot.com/docs/dhs.uav....on.030113.html