Privacy battle against U.S. drone surveillance ramps up
[Bruce] Schneier agrees the technology is now in place for “a wholesale surveillance state.”
“And, you have to remember that technology never gets worse,” Schneier said. “It always gets better. That’s what’s worrisome.”
He said Markey’s bill will not solve the problem, because it is already arriving a bit late. “It’s very difficult to produce regulations with money involved,” he said. “Once there is a drone industry, it makes it harder.”
But he said there is some value to that and other legislative efforts. “At least it gets a conversation started,” Schneier said.
There is no stopping this technology with law. What folks like the EFF and EPIC should be doing is applying for drone licenses themselves. If there’s going to be live 24/7 surveillance of all areas visible from the sky, the public should have access, too.
