Yes, the FBI has been surveilling you from that plane

"WASHINGTON (AP) — 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.

Aerial surveillance represents a changing frontier for law enforcement, providing what the government maintains is an important tool in criminal, terrorism or intelligence probes. But the program raises questions about whether there should be updated policies protecting civil liberties as new technologies pose intrusive opportunities for government spying.

U.S. law enforcement officials confirmed for the first time the wide-scale use of the aircraft, which the AP traced to at least 13 fake companies, such as FVX Research, KQM Aviation, NBR Aviation and PXW Services. Even basic aspects of the program are withheld from the public in censored versions of official reports from the Justice Department's"

Did you notice the "KICKER" in that. Let me reiterate it.

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.


Did you see it yet?

No?

Here let me narrow it down.

generally used without a judge's approval

Do you see it now?

In other words, they didn't bother to go to a Judge to get a warrant. They just decided to fly over a city and video record people and in what they SAY is "Some" flights, they also collect "Cellphone" traffic. IOW they are taking your picture and listening to your cellphone while you are out in public. And DESPITE your Constitutionally Protected Right that they MUST have a Warrant to do so, they haven't bothered to fill out the paperwork and are listening to you and everyone else, anyway.

Did you notice I didn't say "listening to your cell phone CONVERSATIONS", I said CELLPHONE. In this day and age of smartphones, if they put something like, ohhhh a Stingray, in one of those planes, they can actually use those planes to push thru fake updates to your smartphone, which could allow them access to every piece of data on your phone, and turn it into the hidden camera and microphone that you take with you everywhere.

And they haven't even bothered to go in front of a Judge, lay out the reasons and their Probable Cause, that they need a warrant.  They just decided to take a large bowel movement on our "RIGHTS" and fly the plane.

And did you also notice the other little tidbit in that story?

"U.S. law enforcement officials confirmed for the first time the wide-scale use of the aircraft, which the AP traced to at least 13 fake companies, such as FVX Research, KQM Aviation, NBR Aviation and PXW Services. Even basic aspects of the program are withheld from the public in censored versions of official reports from the Justice Department's inspector general.

"The FBI's aviation program is not secret," spokesman Christopher Allen said in a statement. "Specific aircraft and their capabilities are protected for operational security purposes." Allen added that the FBI's planes "are not equipped, designed or used for bulk collection activities or mass surveillance."

But the planes can capture video of unrelated criminal activity on the ground that could be handed over for prosecutions.

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."

They set up "Fake" companies to run the aircraft, and if while they are illegally taking video of you, and capturing data from your cellphone, if you DO commit a crime, they will turn that illegally collected information over, so you can be prosecuted.

WOOOOOW!!!!! they get to have their cake and eat not just it, but your cake and your neighbors cake and their neighbors cake and everyone else's cake, too.

Have you figured out yet all the various "Issues" with this program?