Some of the data appears to have been taken in the Atlanta area. However, Atlanta Police told WIRED that the footage was not from their jurisdiction. The Georgia Patrol did not respond to a request for comment by the time of publication.
The Air Department of the Georgia Patrol has 15 helicopters and one Cessna 182 light aircraft, which are used for search and rescue. The department's website also lists activities such as "aerial photography" and "aerial surveillance."
"Why does large-scale surveillance activities make society less secure, rather than make it more secure? This is a clear example of that," said the vice president of the digital rights advocacy group "Fight for the Future." Evan Greer says. “Both companies and governments are very bad at protecting the sensitive data they collect.”
Police drones are getting a lot of attention these days because they are capable of particularly stealthy surveillance and new types of behavior, including indoor flight. It is also a symbol of a new generation of aircraft. Law enforcement agencies, meanwhile, have been using helicopters for aerial surveys and surveillance for decades.
However, footage released by DDoSecrets shows how helicopter-mounted cameras can help capture extremely sharp and detailed footage close to the ground. And helicopters can carry heavier surveillance equipment than basic quadcopters or other cheap drones.
“Police helicopters are supposed to be used to enforce traffic violations, but that's not all,” explains Best of DDoSecrets. “Helicopters have technology that allows police to monitor people who are unaware they are being monitored. It is important that the public understands what is happening, and without it we cannot have well-informed discussions and decisions.”
A modern age where AI and big data remember everything forever. Data strips you completely naked and turns into big data that becomes useful information for someone in society. We report on the conflict between the most important questions, the trade-off between privacy and safety/convenience.
The fact that helicopters are so widely used for surveillance only adds to privacy activists' concerns about drones. Drones and other unmanned aerial vehicles are much cheaper than helicopters, are easier to buy and operate, and can be equipped with a wider range of sensors.
"Cameras and telephoto technology are getting cheaper and lighter all the time," says Matthew Feeney, director of emerging technologies at the Cato Institute, a think tank. “Aircraft like drones should always be thought of as platforms with surveillance tools like cameras, stingrays, infrared cameras and facial recognition software.”
Of the leaked helicopter surveillance footage, DDoSecrets' Best said much of it was time-stamped in 2019 and that police should make retention a key priority. There are similar arguments about the need for deletion guidelines when dealing with police body camera footage.