Clusters of unidentified drones spotted in New York and New Jersey

[Jilly_in_VA]

A spate of mysterious drone sightings have been reported in New York and Philadelphia as the FBI continues investigating similar sightings across New Jersey over the past month.

Since mid-November, local residents in several counties in New Jersey have reported seeing clusters of drones – and in recent days, additional drone sightings have been reported in parts of Pennsylvania and New York’s Staten Island.

Local residents in the regions have been capturing and sharing footage online that appears to show drones in the sky.

Last week, the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Newark office announced it was actively investigating these sightings and was seeking information from the public.

“Witnesses have spotted the cluster of what look to be drones and a possible fixed wing aircraft,” the FBI said. “We have reports from the public and law enforcement dating back several weeks.”

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2024/dec/09/drones-new-york-new-jersey-philadelphia

Is Hair Fuehrer spying on us already?

[Autumn]

1. Think they are government or private companies?

[bucolic_frolic]

2. Unmanned ground, sea, and air tactical surveillance

There are companies that do this sort of stuff, or at least that's what I think the lingo says. For who, who knows? What they're up to? Who knows? Everything today is data analytics. Maybe they collect and parse all clicks. Someone might find a way to sell the information for profit. Free enterprise, right?

Something's up. My internet is slow, slow, slow. A new hourglass loading icon in Firefox. World Wide Wait has returned. I so plan to ditch ISP forever.

[bif]

3. DUPE!

https://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=19787067

[hlthe2b]

4. If we EVER have sane government again, I'd like to see some regulatory controls on drones...

I know what is and is not allowed with them and I've heard from some clueless posters in the past who think we should just shut up and live with it. While few laws restrict them now, no one should have to put up with realtors flying them by residential bathroom windows when they have difficulties directing them over the home they were meant to videotape. Nor should we have to put up with them flying over protected open spaces, harassing wildlife. The former is hard to deal with legally, but the latter I have (and will continue to) report to state and local wildlife authorities. I HAVE managed to get some a-hole drunken guys ticketed and their drones at least temporarily seized for doing the latter.

FAA HAS FINALLY managed to start cracking down on hobbyist drones over wildfire areas that can and has caused delays in deploying planes to drop water and flame retardent. So, that is a start...

But, we need additional and more defined laws governing what can and cannot be done with these (often) nuisances.

I don't know if these drones in NJ and elsewhere are nefarious, but it would certainly seem someone routinely deploying large numbers ought to have to register them with local authorities, FAA, or someone.

[hlthe2b]

6. As I stated, I am aware of the weak regs, including registration, but not for major deployment.

And there is USUALLY little one can do about privacy violations except to file a complaint--whether for recreational or business use.

But, as I stated, I have had issues and I have managed to use the existing laws to stop some of these cretins misusing them. When you have protected wildlife colonies being harassed (black-footed ferrets with neighboring prairies dog colonies vital to their protection), THERE ARE steps that can be taken and I have successfully done so.

Those who defend the nearly totally unregulated business use in total disregard for individual privacy rights can go straight to hell as far as I am concerned. My neighbors agree. REMAX got a 100K fine over their tactics two years ago.

And anyone foolish enough to argue with me over their abuse in remote wildfire areas where people have DIED during delays in deploying planes to fight the fires due to drone interference should think again.

Get the impression I hate drones? Well, not as much as the selfish people who all too often operate and deploy them. And, no, I'm NOT talking about the father playing with a toy drone with their young children. Quite the opposite.

[hlthe2b]

8. I have experienced the worst abuses. I'd suggest you leave it there. High horse, you are damned right.

And, as I said, REMAX got to shell out 100K in fines over their abuses in my and three other neighborhoods. What exactly have YOU succeeded in doing in righting wrongs?

[global1]

9. Where's The Government With This?.....

One would think that they have some real good pics of these drones and that they can enlarge and maybe identify some markings that might give them info of where these drones are originating.

Also - are they so low that they can't be picked up by any kind of radar?

I heard that they are about the size of a small car. Somebody must have seen them taking off or landing. I'm finding it hard that more isn't being made known about these on the national news.

I see these as a possible threat. That's why I'm finding it hard to believe that we don't know more about these drones.

If they are being flown by a legitimate company testing these out - one would think that there would be info available on companies that may have this or may be working on this technology and the authorities would make that info available to the people to calm down their fears - fears of the unknown.

What's being done to track these. I got to think that airports in the area should be able to track them.