Department of Justice
Cleveland Police Deploy Drone at Pro-Palestine Protest Despite Lacking DOJ Approval
A controversial drone deployment by Cleveland Police has sparked debate after officers used the unmanned aircraft to monitor protesters outside County Executive Chris Ronayne’s residence, despite lacking required Department of Justice authorization, reports Signal Cleveland. Unauthorized Surveillance Operation The Cleveland…
Real Estate Developer Faces $270,000 FAA Fine for Harassing Unhoused People with Drones
A Pueblo real estate developer is facing substantial fines from the Federal Aviation Administration for repeatedly using drones to harass unhoused individuals. Henry “Hank” Borunda, who owns several downtown Pueblo properties including the La Bella Union Plaza, has been hit…
FBI Thwarts Plot to Attack Nashville Power Grid Using Explosive-Laden Drone
A potentially catastrophic attack on Nashville’s critical infrastructure was prevented when the FBI arrested a 24-year-old Tennessee man who allegedly planned to crash an explosives-equipped drone into a power substation, according to the Department of Justice. The Drone Attack Plot…
Russian National Arrested for Smuggling Drone Tech to Russia
A Russian national living in Sarasota, Florida, was arrested on Monday for smuggling, money laundering, and illegally exporting technology that could be used in drone production to Russia. The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) announced the charges, highlighting the seriousness…
Chinese Graduate Student Pleads Guilty to Drone Photography Espionage Charges
In a landmark case, Fengyun Shi, a Chinese graduate student, has pleaded guilty to charges under the Espionage Act for using a drone to photograph classified U.S. Navy vessels. This marks the first known conviction under a World War II-era…
DJI Drone Ban Described As “Uniquely American Clusterfuck”
DJI Drone Ban: U.S. Lawmakers Target Chinese Tech Amid Privacy Concerns In an excellent article from 404 Media, Jason Koebler explains why the DJI Drone Ban is a “uniquely American clusterfuck.” “This potential ban is a uniquely American clusterfuck that…
House Committee Highlights Concerns Over Chinese DJI Drones, Urges US Leadership
The House Select Committee on the Strategic Competition Between the United States and the Chinese Communist Party held hearings today that shed light on the growing concerns surrounding Chinese-made drones, particularly those manufactured by DJI. The committee’s discussions centered on…
Bipartisan Bill Aims to Extend Federal Counter-Drone Powers
Lawmakers Seek to Balance Security and Civil Liberties A bipartisan group of House lawmakers introduced a bill on Tuesday that would extend the federal government’s authority to counter threats posed by drones while also safeguarding the rights of responsible drone…
Chinese Grad Student Charged with Espionage for Drone Photos of US Navy Shipyards
In an unprecedented case, the US Department of Justice has charged a Chinese national, Fengyun Shi, with using a drone to photograph classified nuclear submarine shipyards in Virginia. Wired reports that this marks the first known application of a World…
House GOP Demands DOJ Probe into Chinese DJI Drone Lobbying Activities
Lawmakers Target DJI for Alleged Propaganda Campaign House Republicans Elise Stefanik (R., N.Y.) and John Moolenaar (R., Mich.) are pushing for a DOJ investigation into an advocacy group they claim is a front for DJI, a Chinese military-linked drone company.…
OOP MADE EASY! Anti-China Bill, FAA Reauthorization, Philly YouTuber, DJI H30
Welcome to Weekly UAS News Update! We have six stories for you this week. We have the FAA Reauthorization Act, flying over people just got a lot easier (this is a cool one), Philly YouTuber’s troubles don’t end, a new…
Elevating Law Enforcement: NOPD Embraces Drone Technology for Investigations
A New Era in Policing The New Orleans Police Department (NOPD) has marked the beginning of a new chapter in law enforcement tactics with the federal approval of drone usage during investigations. This groundbreaking development came after a meticulous review…