The Buzz Off Act would bar federal law enforcement agencies from using drones (unmanned aerial vehicles) to intentionally surveil, gather information about, or photographically/ electronically record a specifically targeted United States citizen or the specifically targeted private property of a U.S. citizen. An exception allows agencies to publish or publicly disseminate photos or recordings of a U.S. citizen if the citizen provides written consent. There are two narrow carveouts to the general ban: (1) the President, acting through the Secretary of Homeland Security, may authorize drone surveillance if they certify in writing under oath that it is necessary to counter a high risk of a terrorist attack by a specific individual or organization; and (2) a head of a federal law enforcement agency can obtain a judge-signed search warrant authorizing drone use. The bill is titled the Buzz Off Act, was introduced in the 119th Congress, and referred to the Judiciary Committee.
Key Points
- 1Prohibits federal law enforcement agencies from using unmanned aerial vehicles to intentionally surveil, gather evidence, or record a specifically targeted U.S. citizen or the targeted private property of a U.S. citizen.
- 2Exception: agencies may publish or publicly disseminate a U.S. citizen’s photograph or recording if there is written consent from that citizen.
- 3Carveout 1: The President, via the Secretary of Homeland Security, can authorize drone surveillance if they certify in writing under oath that it is necessary to counter a high risk of a terrorist attack by a specific individual or organization.
- 4Carveout 2: The head of a federal law enforcement agency can obtain a judge-signed search warrant authorizing the use of a drone.
- 5Scope: Applies to federal law enforcement; does not appear to ban all drone use, but specifically targets surveillance, evidence gathering, or recording of named individuals or their property.