Tech Roundup 20 – Drone Surveillance and the Fourth Amendment

RTP's Fourth Branch Podcast

Are we ready to live under the watchful eye of drones?
In this Tech Roundup podcast, Trace Mitchell (Institute for Justice), Brent Skorup (Mercatus Center), and Jay Stanley (ACLU) discuss the rapid adoption of drone technology by law enforcement entities and the legal and policy implications of this trend.
They provide insights into recent court cases involving warrantless drone surveillance, spotlighting the difficulty in applying previous Fourth Amendment jurisprudence to this new technology. They discuss the legitimate interests of law enforcement in using drones but grapple with the societal risks of normalizing unending overhead surveillance. They explore establishing reasonable limitations, transparency, and democratic oversight in law enforcement drone programs.
Tune in to this thought-provoking conversation on personal liberties, privacy, and the future of law enforcement.
Featuring:
- Trace Mitchell, Litigation Fellow, Institute for Justice
- Jay Stanley, Senior Policy Analyst, Speech, Privacy, and Technology Project, ACLU
- [Moderator] Brent Skorup, Senior Research Fellow, Mercatus Center, George Mason University
Additional Resources:
- Michigan Drone Surveillance
- Eye-in-the-Sky Policing Needs Strict Limits
- 2023 State Drone Commerce Rankings
- Drones, Airspace Design, and Aerial Law in States and Cities
Visit our website – www.RegProject.org – to learn more, view all of our content, and connect with us on social media.
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As always, the Federalist Society takes no position on particular legal or public policy issues; all expressions of opinion are those of the speaker.