Drone aircraft, otherwise known as unmanned aerial vehicles, have been used by the military in times of war for over 60 years, but their capabilities for purposes of criminal investigation have only recently been explored. Drones are best known for their ability to conduct close-up aerial surveillance and have recently been employed to guard our nation’s borders.[FOOTNOTE 1] Surveillance drones may be equipped with sophisticated computerized imaging technology to obtain detailed photographs of terrain, people, homes, and small objects. Advanced drones are capable of deploying a diverse range of computerized systems, advanced imaging, infrared sensor systems, heat sensors, GPS navigational systems, movement sensors, and even automated license plate readers.

In the near future, drones may be deployed with facial recognition technology to remotely identify individuals in public areas such as parks, fields, and other outdoor sites. Synchronization of cell phone tracking, GPS technology, and drone surveillance has been perfected in war areas, so it is foreseeable that the same linked science may soon be available and affordable in the war on drugs, human trafficking, domestic counter-terrorism, and other civilian-based law enforcement endeavors. What standard will the courts impose upon law enforcement for the use of such technology, and resulting evidence in civilian courts? The answer has been intimated in several cases, and will be addressed in this article.

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