Security News > 2020 > June > As Uncle Sam flies spy drones over protest-packed cities, Homeland Security asks the public if that's a good idea

Following weeks of heated protests in American cities - and criticism of law enforcement's use of force, surveillance, and drone aircraft in the skies above - the US government has belatedly asked the public what it thinks.

The US Department of Homeland Security wants your comments on the use of drones by police and other first responders by July 9.

"The survey will ask respondents to report their demographic characteristics, their knowledge of unmanned aircraft systems, their knowledge of the use of UAS by first responders, their overall trust in the use of new technologies by the government and first responders, their general attitudes about such use, and their opinions about the use of drones by first responders for specific applications like search-and-rescue."

Homeland Security said it will also be using the survey to pitch citizens on a number of messages the agency has thought up to "Deliver information to the public about first responder drone applications."

The US Customs and Border Patrol confirmed it had lent one of its Predator drones to fly at 20,000 feet over and monitor protests in Minneapolis to "Provide live video to aid in situational awareness at the request of our federal law enforcement partners."

News URL

https://go.theregister.com/feed/www.theregister.com/2020/06/11/dhs_police_drone_survey/