Statement from ACU Chairman Al Cardenas on Use of Drones for Domestic Law Enforcement

“The American Conservative Union commends the Virginia General Assembly for passing legislation that would place a two year moratorium on the use of drones by local police and governments and urges states all over the country to follow suit.

We must ensure that, as new technology develops, our protections of Americans’ privacy advance equally.  In many cases, aerial surveillance is being conducted without search warrants and with no safeguards in place to restrict the use of information gained from that surveillance.  Government use of unmanned aerial vehicles should be strictly regulated to ensure the citizen’s rights are not violated in the rush to implement these new tools.

The ACU applauds Virginia for being one of the first states to take steps to protect its citizens from the negative consequences of the use of this new technology and encourages legislators from all states to continue this conversation across the nation.”

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