California Police Can Use Drones Without Warrants

Drones are a growing part of society, which is still trying to figure out how they should — and shouldn't — be used. Among this debate is under what circumstances law enforcement can use drones for surveillance, and whether they need a search warrant to do so. California, usually a state that favors such measures, has moved against a bill requiring police to get search warrants for drone use.

California Governor Jerry Brown has vetoed a bill that would otherwise require police to get a search warrant to use drones for surveillance. His reasons concerns the Fourth Amendment, with Brown saying in part that the bill "could impose requirements beyond what is required" by the 4th.

The idea behind the decision is that drone surveillance is something that may be taking place in public, where one doesn't necessarily have any expectation of privacy. The governor does concede that "there are undoubtedly circumstances where a warrant is appropriate."

Concerns about law enforcement using drones is valid, however, with them being able to do things like peek in windows and get pretty up-close-and-personal in places where other practical public surveillance would be unable to access. So far, 10 states requires warrants for police use of drones.

SOURCE: TechDirt