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Court rebuffs Chula Vista police claims its drone videos are secret

Chula Vista police drones

The continuing evolution of rules and legal interpretations on official drone use in the US took another twist this week with the decision by a California appellate court rebuffing Chula Vista municipal police claims that all videos its UAVs capture on duty are “records of investigations,” and as such protected from public scrutiny.

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BRINC to supply LEMUR 2 drones in $700K Schenectady police force deal

BRINC LEMUR 2 police

Seattle-based UAV security and emergency situational awareness specialist BRINC has recruited another big US client to its LEMUR 2 drone offer, with the New York city of Schenectady voting Tuesday to approve a nearly $700,000 contract with the startup to introduce the craft as police department asset.

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New York police drone use skyrockets despite public privacy fears

Disneyland drone

When New York Mayor Eric Adams announced the liberalization of permitting rules for drone operation in the city last July, he predicted it would lead to a growth of aerial services improving residents’ daily lives. One application he didn’t mention is one many New Yorkers are least enamored with: UAV surveillance by the police, which has increased exponentially over the past year.

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Baltimore police brave US blacklist pressures to launch UAV unit with DJI drones

Baltimore DJI police drone

The time-tested parental observation advises that one learns more about a situation by heeding what people do rather than what they say. That may also be said of the recent decision by the Baltimore Police Department in establishing its new drone fleet using DJI drones – and in doing so broadly reflecting the frequent response of independent administrations to the largely politicized moves by Congress, US government agencies, and several state legislatures to blacklist the UAV giant’s craft from official use across the nation.

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UK study of police drones urges creation of national rules on use and data security practices

Russia FPV drones Ukraine

It’s no secret that UK police have been energetic and innovative adopters of drone technology in public service, law enforcement, and first responder activity, but a recent survey suggests those forces need to do a better job in assuring security of their UAVs and the data they collect.

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The Buzz Podcast: Mini 4 leaks, mystery enterprise drone, and more

This week Yifei and Seth discuss the leaks around DJI’s next consumer drone, the Mini 4. What will it approve on? We don’t know so let’s speculate. They also discuss a mysterious new DJI enterprise drone that has been leaked for some time now, with almost no details. The two then finish off give updated thoughts on drone parachutes and police use of drones to verify complaints.

Enjoy the podcast? Shop DJI, Autel, or other drones at Amazon to support The Buzz!

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As NYC eases drone restrictions, NYPD expands its fleet with BRINC LEMUR 2 tactical UAVs

NYPD drones BRINC LEMUR

In the wake of the city’s recent decision to introduce permitting procedures expected to ease its notoriously tight drone restrictions, the New York Police Department (NYPD) has moved to expand its own fleet by procuring cutting-edge BRINC tactical UAVs designed for use in critical situations to reduce threat to human lives.

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France approves police drone response to rioting despite public opposition to UAV surveillance

France police drone

As a reflection of just how strong public sentiment in France remains against police use of drones to monitor people, officials waited well into the nation’s six-straight nights of rioting before giving law enforcement agencies the green light to fly UAVs for security purposes in response to the unrest.

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Citymesh calls its Belgian police and firefighter drone support network ‘world’s first’

Belgian drone police firefighter

Belgian communications and connectivity specialist Citymesh has announced the launch of what it calls the world’s first nationwide network of public safety drones ready to begin onsite data collection and reconnaissance work as soon as 911 calls come in for police and firefighter help.

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