The FBI is flying a ‘small air force’ of surveillance planes over United States cities

  If this story is true the NSA’s data-mining program might be the least of our troubles when it comes to Fourth Amendment rights: The FBI is flying what is being called a “small air force” of what amounts to spy planes over dozens of United States cities and, get this, they are being disguised as business planes so the FBI can hide behind the veil of secrecy while remaining out in the open.

The FBI is operating a small air force with scores of low-flying planes across the country carrying video and, at times, cellphone surveillance technology — all hidden behind fictitious companies that are fronts for the government, The Associated Press has learned.

The planes’ surveillance equipment is generally used without a judge’s approval, and the FBI said the flights are used for specific, ongoing investigations. In a recent 30-day period, the agency flew above more than 30 cities in 11 states across the country, an AP review found.

  And some of these planes are equipped with technology which allows the FBI to identify people on the ground through their cellphones even if they are not making a call.

Some of the aircraft can also be equipped with technology that can identify thousands of people below through the cellphones they carry, even if they’re not making a call or in public. Officials said that practice, which mimics cell towers and gets phones to reveal basic subscriber information, is rare.

  But that is rare (according to the FBI) and they are being used for specific investigations so we should not be worried…right? After all, the FBI would never follow in the steps of the NSA and secretly expand this program beyond its original scope…or would they? Can any government agency be trusted at this time? 

Malo periculosam libertatem quam quietum servitium