4 ms·

There's a bit of scaremongering in the headline; these are being tested domestically by the DOD use outside of the US. The DOD isn't allowed to conduct domestic

There's a bit of scaremongering in the headline; these are being tested domestically by the DOD use outside of the US. The DOD isn't allowed to conduct domestic surveillance.

cheeze 7y ago
Kind of ironic that they are testing them by performing domestic surveillance then, huh?
- RaptorJ 7y ago
  well if "fascism can best be understood as bringing the methods of imperial rule in the colonies into the metropole." Then aside from the obvious imperial attitude of 'its ok since the DOD is developing this for non-americans,' americans themselves might be worried about the future implications of this technology. http://www.hartford-hwp.com/archives/27/074.html http://www.hartford-hwp.com/archives/27/074.html
  - Robotbeat 7y ago
    That is a very useful and succinct definition. And we did use these blimps in Afghanistan. Very apt and chilling definition.
Spooky23 7y ago
Sure. They parked a visible radar blimp over I95 outside of Baltimore and operated it for a couple of years. What’s the difference between “test” and “really using it” when the tests last that long? There are many loopholes for domestic stuff too. A National Guard member controlling the thing for example.
- kevin_thibedeau 7y ago
  Full season durability testing. Developing operational procedures to deal with routine issues. These could easily take a few years.
  - grenoire 7y ago
    and then you can test again, and again, and again. Each time for a few more years.
cco 7y ago
I can't fathom this level of good will afforded to the DOD, the history of the US govt's intelligence services _must_ earn them zero presumption of innocence by now right?
- fkdo 7y ago
  I bet there is a direct correlation between how much good will someone extends DOD and how much they believe their history books.
chocolatebunny 7y ago
Once the technology is proven out they could sell the equipment to law enforcement.
- killjoywashere 7y ago
  And they'll probably sell them "very lightly used" at steep discounts.
lonelappde 7y ago
The FBI and state governments are allowed to conduct domesticated surveillance, and they inherit military tech.
Broken_Hippo 7y ago
They've been slowly giving police departments "surplus" military equipment for some time now. I can easily imagine a similar fate for this, just as I can easily see the FBI, ATF, or other such government agency using this.

There's a bit of scaremongering in the headline; these are being tested domestically by the DOD use outside of the US. The DOD isn't allowed to conduct domestic surveillance.

cheeze 7y ago

Kind of ironic that they are testing them by performing domestic surveillance then, huh?

RaptorJ 7y ago
well if "fascism can best be understood as bringing the methods of imperial rule in the colonies into the metropole." Then aside from the obvious imperial attitude of 'its ok since the DOD is developing this for non-americans,' americans themselves might be worried about the future implications of this technology. http://www.hartford-hwp.com/archives/27/074.html http://www.hartford-hwp.com/archives/27/074.html
- Robotbeat 7y ago
  That is a very useful and succinct definition. And we did use these blimps in Afghanistan. Very apt and chilling definition.

Spooky23 7y ago

Sure. They parked a visible radar blimp over I95 outside of Baltimore and operated it for a couple of years. What’s the difference between “test” and “really using it” when the tests last that long? There are many loopholes for domestic stuff too. A National Guard member controlling the thing for example.

kevin_thibedeau 7y ago
Full season durability testing. Developing operational procedures to deal with routine issues. These could easily take a few years.
- grenoire 7y ago
  and then you can test again, and again, and again. Each time for a few more years.

cco 7y ago

I can't fathom this level of good will afforded to the DOD, the history of the US govt's intelligence services _must_ earn them zero presumption of innocence by now right?

fkdo 7y ago
I bet there is a direct correlation between how much good will someone extends DOD and how much they believe their history books.

chocolatebunny 7y ago

Once the technology is proven out they could sell the equipment to law enforcement.

killjoywashere 7y ago
And they'll probably sell them "very lightly used" at steep discounts.

lonelappde 7y ago

The FBI and state governments are allowed to conduct domesticated surveillance, and they inherit military tech.

Broken_Hippo 7y ago

They've been slowly giving police departments "surplus" military equipment for some time now. I can easily imagine a similar fate for this, just as I can easily see the FBI, ATF, or other such government agency using this.