Schumer: NYC has become wild, Wild West for drones
Drones spying on us
U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer warned on Sunday that drones are spying on New York City citizens, being used by crooks and sometimes flying out of control.
“New York City has become the wild, Wild West for commercial and hobby drones, and until clear, smart regulations are put in place by the federal government, they will continue to threaten the privacy and safety of New Yorkers,” Sen. Schumer said in a release.
“More and more, small drones are being used by private investigators to spy on unaware New Yorkers or for illegal purposes like drug deliveries, and the lack of clear rules from the FAA holds a great deal of the blame for confusion as to what is legal, and the blatant abuses of this great technology,” he said.
In letters to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and Commerce Department, Schumer listed three particular concerns: the use of drones by private investigators to spy on residents, their use by drug dealers, and public safety issues, including a recent incident in which a drone interfered with an NYPD helicopter.