tech
Surveillance drones deployment on US’s Great Lakes raises data collection fears
Rights groups and some locals worry that program to ‘track illicit activity’ could become a data collection project
TL;DR
- The US Coast Guard is using at least six Saildrone Inc. Voyager surveillance vessels in the Great Lakes to detect and deter illicit activities.
- These drones, equipped with radar, cameras, and AI, can operate for extended periods and are part of a $15.5 million contract.
- Rights groups and locals express concerns about privacy, data collection, and the lack of transparency regarding data usage and retention.
- Despite accusations of illicit activity, data on drug seizures on the Great Lakes waterways is scarce, and authorities admit water safety has not changed.
- Experts question the effectiveness of a small number of drones in covering the vast expanse of the Great Lakes, suggesting the focus may be on building persistent surveillance infrastructure.
- Saildrone's partnership with defense companies like Lockheed Martin raises further questions, though the Coast Guard states such lethal systems are not envisioned for the Great Lakes.