A presentation released to Motherboard under the Freedom of Information Act details how the FBI briefed pilots and agents about its aviation programs.
The "Indoctrination to Bureau Aircraft Operations" presentation comes in three parts, and is dated April 2009. Across over 330 pages, the Field Flight Operations Unit spells out a wealth of legal, technical, and safety issues for operating aircraft on FBI missions.
[...] "Put simply, you can't look through walls of a home without a search warrant," the presentation neatly summarizes. This is the same advice given to agents by a separate FBI presentation on drone use.
The three parts of the "Indoctrination to Bureau Aircraft Operations" are available on documentcloud: Part #1, Part #2, and Part #3.
(Score: 3, Interesting) by bob_super on Thursday August 11 2016, @04:37PM
Did they convict people based on what they saw? It's understood that a camera looking for a suspect during an active chase will pick up other things, including things that could land people in jail. It's typically up to the judge to decide whether that evidence is acceptable in court, and because of the supreme court it normally won't.
On the other hand, someone may have a second look at your house later from the street, and coincidentally notice that something they had never seen before is probably worth a warrant.
(Score: 2) by takyon on Thursday August 11 2016, @05:01PM
"Put simply, you can't look through walls of a home without a search warrant,"
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(Score: 2) by bob_super on Thursday August 11 2016, @05:29PM
Let me rephrase my point: "Put simply, you can't chase that suspect through the backyards without getting a warrant before jumping each fence".
The Boston bomber case was considered an active-shooter chase. Those don't gather receivable evidence unless the cops tackle the bad guy right in the middle of your crops.
I personally want a warrant that will let me look through walls. I know a few places where it's likely worth it.
(Score: 2) by takyon on Thursday August 11 2016, @06:22PM
Fences have existed for as long as our country has existed. Infrared looking through walls - not.
Let them get a warrant for every home they want to scan where the homeowner has not invited them inside and there is no outside indication that the shooter sought refuge there.
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(Score: 2) by bob_super on Thursday August 11 2016, @09:35PM
It still doesn't, mind you. Infrared will tell you the temperature of the wall, how much insulation you need for growing in your attic, and maybe whether the boat in your driveway has a warm body inside.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday August 11 2016, @05:45PM
Never heard of parallel construction? Using infrared cameras to even look into houses other than ones you have a warrant to look into should be outright illegal, period.