invasion of privacy or within the law?

[peggy]

Does anyone have any experience of remote control spy drones? Should they fly close to your home, infact directly opposite your bedroom window or, more intimidating, very close (not quite touching distance but damn well nearly) opposite you whilst you are in your garden, is this against the law or is airspace free to roam Also how do they record? I mean do they send live images back to the user or are they stored on board? Feeling stalked and not comfortable about where I stand.

 

[John Marwood]

We don't really have privacy laws like,say France

However, there are a number of other laws that can be enforced to overcome negative situations.

The main problem with law and technology is that the latter is always leaps ahead of the former and so the law is always trying to catch up

I have an interesting range of catapults you may wish to browse
Give plod a call and write to the PCC, lobby your MP, shout at your councillor, make a very large sign saying " You owe me £ 250""

The large versions need a license, the little ones need good aim

 

[littleme]

Do you know who is controlling it? Can you take photos / film it with a phone etc...just filming it might be enough to put the person in control off?

 

[Gadget]

Sadly it's within the law as you can't own the airspace. I suggest either a net or a broom handle, when it's in your garden a give it a whack or catch it. I doubt if the owner will be around to retrieve it. There's much discussion at the moment as to the need for more regulation for these things.

 

[tek-monkey]

Any idea what frequencies they use? Could fashion a basic jammer, quick blast sees it drop out of the sky then you pick it up and put it in the bin. Problem solved.

 

[peggy]

tek, i like this plan...but no I have no idea, how do I find out? I was thinking the water pressure hose may do the trick? do you know how they record, is it live to a person sitting in their home (therefor they would see me coming with said hose) or it saved onto.. erm something?? and then taken off the..erm something ..and played later?
I don't know who is in control of the devise as I havent seen anyone but I have me suspicions, I'm horrified that I may not have any legal protection to stop this thing stalking me, I wonder whether I would be held accountable for any damage I (intend) to cause it if I see it, or the user!!

 

[tek-monkey]

It is usually recorded, not live. I suspect it will usually be in the 2.4GHz band but am not positive.

An air rifle would be a good alternative to the hose, make sure it stays down!

 

[Glam]

I'm not in any way tech savvy, ask anyone who knows me. But, isn't the person operatin such a 'thing' meant to be close enough to it to see where it goes?
Peggy love. i'm with Gadget, belt it with a broom handle, or sumat similar. Can you see a camera on it n all? xx

 

[littleme]

tek, i like this plan...but no I have no idea, how do I find out? I was thinking the water pressure hose may do the trick? do you know how they record, is it live to a person sitting in their home (therefor they would see me coming with said hose) or it saved onto.. erm something?? and then taken off the..erm something ..and played later?
I don't know who is in control of the devise as I havent seen anyone but I have me suspicions, I'm horrified that I may not have any legal protection to stop this thing stalking me, I wonder whether I would be held accountable for any damage I (intend) to cause it if I see it, or the user!!

I would whack it one with a broom or other garden implement, or spray it with a hose on the grounds that I thought it was attacking me Muppets - don't let them get you down Peggy.

 

[Gramaisc]

Some info here - http://www.caa.co.uk/default.aspx?CATID=1995 .

Aircraft operators and pilots should be aware that the collection of images of identifiable individuals (even inadvertently) when using surveillance cameras mounted on a Small Unmanned Surveillance Aircraft may be subject to the Data Protection Act. As this Act contains requirements concerning the collection, storage and use of such images, Small Unmanned Aircraft operators should ensure that they are complying with any such applicable requirements or exemptions.

 

[peggy]

Husband said he could see a camera on it I didnt stay to watch, went upstairs to shut the bedroom curtain only to find it opposite my window, I do intend to end this and I think I know where if not who is responsible but unfortunately I couldn't see them. this is not the first occasion that i have been faced with this flipping flying gadget, I am going to get myself set up with the necessary long handles items and prepare myself for battle. thankyou for your support, words of wisdom. Tek can you tell me a little more about the jammer, where do i get one and how much am i looking at? thankyou. x

 

[Gramaisc]

How often has this happened? Is there any regularity to the timing? Etc....

 

[peggy]

thanks Gram, it cant be right that they can get so close to a person or their home. I will follow this up, and look into it further. Its frustrating not knowing when its going to appear, I thought about knocking on the person who I suspects door but I don't actually have any evidence its them, but yes I will record it next time and if it gets close enough then its going down!!

 

[Gramaisc]

'We' bought one for the cops..

..used with some success at this year's V at Weston Park, I hear.

 

[djwellis]

I have experience with these. There are a great many rules surrounding the use of UAVs.

As an example, there are rules against flying over crowds, hovering too close to buldings, cars, etc, etc.

Something you may find useful - CAA regulations state that the pilot must maintain unaided line of sight visibility with the UAV. So you should be able to see the pilot and ask them not to fly near to you.

Additionally, CAA regulations mean that if the person is charging for the work that they're doing, they have to have CAA approval for it - and without it you may end up like these poor fellows.

Also, a note of caution. UAVs can be rather expensive, so be careful if you deliberately damage it. Because they may well bill you for it!


What happened in your case, can I ask?

 

[peggy]

sorry Gram, I missed your last post, this is the second time in about 3 weeks. it doesnt just fly past casually, it stopped the first time right opposite me in the garden for a long...several minutes, time before it went away. it appeared from behind some trees over the field and I watched it come. I stood my ground and stayed their watching it and I thought whoever was watching the recording would get the idea I wasnt happy and leave me alone but then it just hovered around some more and then flew off, this time it did the same just the other side of our fence and stayed there for again what seemed a long time, (several minutes I guess in real time) before flying up to the bedroom window, then it began beeping (battery flat?) before heading away, but I saw no one, I think thats what bothers me, my husband said he thinks he saw a particular individual but thinks I should leave it now as that person would know husband was present this time.....im not so sure.

 

[peggy]

I have to come back to this in a little while but please keep your thoughts coming, how expensive are these things, might be tempted to buy one and engage in battle of the peepers!!

 

[tek-monkey]

What area do you live in?

As for cost, I say **** them! Surely they'd have to prove they were there legally first? And if they can't see the UAV, then they are acting illegally. Besides which, if its pointing at someone else at the time they wont see who hit it, perhaps you should keep it distracted while someone else creeps up behind it with a cricket bat?

 

[Gramaisc]

Do you know any Iranians? They might be able to take over control of it - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iran–U.S._RQ-170_incident .

 

[littleme]

I have some golf clubs....