Surveillance

Every DroneXL story tagged “Surveillance” — newest first.

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Oct 27

Last updated

Skydio X10 drone hovering above its rooftop docking station with the San Francisco skyline and Salesforce Tower behind it

Surveillance · Police

SFPD's Proposed Drone Rules Stop Short of Sonoma's Court Settlement

San Francisco advanced rules for 98 police drones with a narrow warrant clause and no resident notice. Sonoma's ACLU settlement requires both.

Haye KestelooOct 275 min read

An orange-sailed Saildrone Voyager uncrewed sailboat, hull number SD-2015, heads out across grey water past a forested island shoreline

Sweden

Sweden Pays Saildrone for Baltic Sea Data, Not the Boats Collecting It

Four Saildrone Voyager sea drones began a year-long Baltic patrol for the Swedish Navy. Sweden buys their data and leaves the boats to Saildrone.

Haye KestelooOct 26

COVERED LIST

FCC Catches Huawei Surveillance Chips in Its First Parts Ban Case

The FCC blocked a dash cam and a wireless video transmitter over HiSilicon chips, the first case under the rule that also bars DJI boards from new drones.

Haye KestelooOct 22

Soldiers in camouflage stand beside a green military utility vehicle on a dirt road along a tall steel border wall, with a gray quadcopter drone resting on the ground in the foreground.

Department of Homeland Security

CBP Logged 37,000 Border Drone Flights In FY2026, Down From 42,000

CBP counted 37,000 near-border drone flights in FY2026, down from 42,000. Its February data suggests the 42,000 included the Canadian border.

Haye KestelooOct 15

Police

Flock Bets on Police Drones as San Francisco Weighs Drone Limits

Flock's CEO says drones will be nearly half its future revenue. San Francisco's Police Commission takes up its police drone rules on October 14.

Haye KestelooOct 13

Detroit City Council President James Tate

Detroit DFR

Detroit Police Drone Grant Went To Washington Without City Council Approval

Detroit filed a $2.2 million DOJ grant application for a police drone as first responder program without City Council approval. Six members voted no, the city may withdraw it, and DPD still has no approved drone policy.

Haye KestelooJul 30