Senators examine domestic drones’ effect on privacy

By Brian Bennett, Washington Bureau LA Times

WASHINGTON — As federal authorities accelerate plans to license thousands of surveillance drones over U.S. soil by late 2015, some legal experts and lawmakers are warning that unmanned aircraft could threaten privacy on an unparalleled scale.

An opening shot in an expected battle to limit use of domestic drones came Wednesday when 24 civil liberties and privacy organizations submitted a formal petition to U.S. Customs and Border Protection demanding that the agency stop flying 10 unarmed Predator drones along the Mexican and Canadian borders until clear guidelines are established.

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-drones-privacy-20130321,0,4517531.story