Markey: Protections Needed Before Commercial Drones Allowed
WASHINGTON (CBS/AP) — Online retailer Amazon.com's idea for super-fast delivery of packages by unmanned aerial drone has brought a "not so fast" response from one U.S. senator
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Massachusetts Democrat Edward Markey says clear rules are needed to protect the privacy of Americans before commercial drones take to U.S. airspace.
"Before our skies teem with commercial drones, clear rules must be set that protect the privacy and safety of the public," Markey said in a statement.
Amazon founder Jeff Bezos told CBS's "60 Minutes" that the company envisioned using unmanned drones to deliver goods in 30 minutes or less. He said the technology is still several years away and the Federal Aviation Administration would need to develop regulations.
WBZ NewsRadio 1030's Lana Jones reports
Markey: Protections Needed Before Commercial Drones Allowed
Markey said in a statement on Monday that before drones can deliver packages, the FAA must "deliver privacy protections for the American public."
Markey has filed legislation to make sure drones aren't used to spy on Americans.
"My drone privacy legislation requires transparency on the domestic use of drones and adds privacy protections that ensure this technology cannot and will not be used to spy on Americans. I look forward to working with my Senate colleagues on this bipartisan issue to ensure that strong personal privacy protections and public transparency measures are put in place now."
Markey said it's one thing to allow security cameras in a mall but it's quite another thing to let commercial drones have a look at resident's backyards.
