ST. PAUL, MN – In the midst of an ongoing national conversation about the role of unmanned aerial vehicles, State Representative Phyllis Kahn (DFL—Minneapolis) is sponsoring a bill to protect Minnesotans’ personal privacy by establishing restrictions on law enforcement officials’ use of drones.
Rep. Kahn wants to make sure law enforcement officials are only able to deploy drones if there is a high risk of a terrorist attack or when they have obtained a court ordered warrant.
“There is growing public concern about the threat drones poise to personal privacy,” said Rep. Kahn. “We need to prevent law enforcement from abusing this technology.”
Last month, State Senator Sean Nienow (R—Cambridge) introduced similar legislation in the Minnesota Senate. State Representative Mary Franson (R—Alexandria) is carrying companion legislation in the House of Representatives. “As legislators, we're called to uphold and defend the rights of our citizens—especially in cases where government action goes too far," said Rep. Franson. "I'm proud to stand with a bipartisan group of legislators to protect our civil liberties.” Rep. Franson’s legislation will be included in Rep. Kahn’s bill.
“Legislators from both ends of the political spectrum are lining up to support this bill,” added Rep. Kahn. “This isn’t an issue that affects just Democrats or Republicans. It affects all of us. The right to privacy is among the most sacred and inalienable rights of an individual and is a core principle in a free and just society.”
Rep. Kahn’s legislation comes on the heels of growing national media scrutiny on aerial drones, such as coverage of U.S. Senator Rand Paul’s recent 12-hour filibuster protesting the potential for drone strikes on American soil.
35 co-sponsors, both DFLers and Republicans, have already lined up to support Rep. Kahn’s bill, which was introduced today in the Minnesota House of Representatives.