Surveillance drones deployment on US’s Great Lakes raises data collection fears
Summary
The US Coast Guard is using at least six sailing drones on the Great Lakes to monitor cross-border activities like illegal fishing, human trafficking, and drug smuggling. These drones are part of a $15.5 million contract funded under President Trump’s infrastructure bill and are equipped with radar, cameras, and artificial intelligence.Key Facts
- The drones are 33 feet long and can operate for up to 100 days without servicing or refueling.
- They are made by Saildrone Inc, a California-based private company.
- The drones collect surveillance data that Saildrone sells to the government.
- Five US states border the Great Lakes along with Canada: Minnesota, Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and New York.
- Some locals and rights groups worry about privacy and how collected data is used.
- The US Coast Guard has not released detailed info on drug or migration cases in the area, citing security reasons.
- The Coast Guard says the drones help improve safety and monitoring but there is no evidence the Great Lakes have become less safe.
- Around 210,000 recreational boats use the Great Lakes, and some fear surveillance could affect their experience.
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