'Peeping' drones prompt trespassing questions and privacy fears

Drones have the ability to spy on neighbors through windows or over fences.

Drone usage is under scrutiny after a number of complaints over invasion of privacy with the use of drones. Half a dozen U.S. state lawmakers have been urged to outlaw the use of drones in snooping on other houses, according to Bloomberg.

MUNTINLUPA, PHILIPPINES (Catholic Online) - Although there are a lot of beneficial uses for the technological device in various fields, like engineering and real state, conflicts continue to rise as some are not comfortable seeing drones in their area.

As the issues on privacy rights surface, many are considering passing new laws for those concerned but some say the negativity is overreactions.

"Drones have a lot of potentially useful and extremely innovative uses. Invading our privacy and property without permission shouldn't be among them. When we're in our backyards, with our families, we have an expectation that we have a right to privacy," said Democrat Senator Hannah-Beth Jackson of California who introduced the bill extending their existing trespassing laws.

According to her bill, flying a drone 320 meters above others private property without due permit is to be considered trespassing.

In more than a dozen states, according to the American Civil Liberties Union, there are already existing regulations requiring a warrant to use a drone during investigations to gather evidence.

There are about 147 bills related to drone use being considered by 44 states for this year. Some drone enthusiasts claim that these are just overreactions due to the negative public perception brought about by the unfamiliarity of the device's use.

"It shouldn't matter if you use a tripod or a zoom lens or a hidden camera placed in a tree. If you're invading someone's privacy, it's the misconduct that should be illegal, and not the technology," said drone specialist Atty. Brendan Schulman.

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