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Mueller: FBI uses drones for surveillance over US soil | Mueller: FBI uses drones for surveillance over US soil |
(35 minutes later) | |
The FBI has used drones for surveillance in limited cases over US soil, FBI Director Robert Mueller has told a US Senate committee. | The FBI has used drones for surveillance in limited cases over US soil, FBI Director Robert Mueller has told a US Senate committee. |
Mr Mueller said the agency had "very few" drones and had used them in "a very minimal way" and "very seldom". | Mr Mueller said the agency had "very few" drones and had used them in "a very minimal way" and "very seldom". |
But the director said the FBI was in the "initial stages" of developing drone policies. | But the director said the FBI was in the "initial stages" of developing drone policies. |
The revelation comes amid a debate about how the US government balances privacy and national security. | The revelation comes amid a debate about how the US government balances privacy and national security. |
It recently emerged that America's electronic spying agency has been harvesting US phone records and overseas internet data. | It recently emerged that America's electronic spying agency has been harvesting US phone records and overseas internet data. |
Mr Mueller described the drone use in testimony on Wednesday to the US Senate judiciary committee. He was questioned on the matter by Iowa Republican Chuck Grassley. | Mr Mueller described the drone use in testimony on Wednesday to the US Senate judiciary committee. He was questioned on the matter by Iowa Republican Chuck Grassley. |
"I will tell you that our footprint is very small," said Mr Mueller, who is retiring in September after 12 years as FBI director. | |
He said drones were used in "particular incidents where you need the capability", adding he was unsure how long images captured by the drones were kept. | He said drones were used in "particular incidents where you need the capability", adding he was unsure how long images captured by the drones were kept. |
The panel's chairwoman, Sen Dianne Feinstein, told the FBI director she believes that unmanned planes are the biggest threat to Americans' privacy, especially their use by private firms. | The panel's chairwoman, Sen Dianne Feinstein, told the FBI director she believes that unmanned planes are the biggest threat to Americans' privacy, especially their use by private firms. |
The authorities used a surveillance drone during a February stand-off with an Alabama man who shot dead a school bus driver and then took a five-year-old boy hostage, according to media reports at the time. | The authorities used a surveillance drone during a February stand-off with an Alabama man who shot dead a school bus driver and then took a five-year-old boy hostage, according to media reports at the time. |
The aerospace industry predicts there will be 30,000 drones deployed globally within five years, half of them in the US, the Associated Press news agency reports. | The aerospace industry predicts there will be 30,000 drones deployed globally within five years, half of them in the US, the Associated Press news agency reports. |
In March, a Republican senator raised concerns about the use of drones against Americans. | In March, a Republican senator raised concerns about the use of drones against Americans. |
Kentucky's Rand Paul demanded a pledge that the federal government would not use such aircraft in the US to kill terror suspects who are American citizens. | Kentucky's Rand Paul demanded a pledge that the federal government would not use such aircraft in the US to kill terror suspects who are American citizens. |
Sen Paul spoke without a pause on the issue for nearly 13 hours on the Senate floor, in a tactic known as a filibuster, to delay the nomination of a new CIA chief. | Sen Paul spoke without a pause on the issue for nearly 13 hours on the Senate floor, in a tactic known as a filibuster, to delay the nomination of a new CIA chief. |
In May, US President Barack Obama said he would curtail the use of armed drones in operations outside the US. | In May, US President Barack Obama said he would curtail the use of armed drones in operations outside the US. |
Under the new policy described by the White House, the US will only allow drones to be used in areas that are not overt war zones when there was a "continuing, imminent threat" to the US and capture was not feasible. | Under the new policy described by the White House, the US will only allow drones to be used in areas that are not overt war zones when there was a "continuing, imminent threat" to the US and capture was not feasible. |