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Jason Blackeye via Unsplash
June 19, 2018
OTI’s Robyn Greene wrote for Just Security on the dangerous effects of the Preventing Emerging Threats Act of 2018, which was just approved in a Senate committee; the bill authorizes the government to act on drones it deems as “threats” in ways that threaten public safety, privacy, property rights, and due process, among other problems:
It’s rare that a congressional committee tasked with overseeing homeland security approves a bill that would not only authorize sweeping surveillance, but also could pose a significant threat to public safety. But that’s exactly what the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee did when it approved the slightly amended version of the Preventing Emerging Threats Act of 2018 (S. 2836) by voice vote on June 13 after only five minutes of debate.
The committee is seeking to address the legitimate concern that a drone could pose a threat to the security of government buildings and land or to public safety. However, the response of the bill’s proponents would create many more problems than it would solve. S. 2836 would threaten privacy, chill free speech, undermine due process, infringe upon Americans’ property rights, and even authorize the government to take actions that could result in the loss of life or damage to property.