OKLAHOMA CITY – A measure designed to protect Oklahomans from illegal surveillance by unmanned drones cleared the Oklahoma House of Representatives Tuesday.
The bill, House Bill 2337, will ensure that new drone technology is properly regulated to protect due process and the privacy rights of citizens. The bill cleared the full House of Representatives Tuesday on a 56-40 vote.
“We’re pleased that state lawmakers from both political parties took a stand for privacy rights,” said Ryan Kiesel executive director of ACLU Oklahoma. “The potential benefits of drones are already apparent. But drones are also a game changer when it comes to the government’s ability to strip away our privacy rights.”
Kiesel said it was possible for Oklahomans to enjoy the benefits of drones without taking a larger step toward a surveillance society “in which our every move is monitored, tracked, recorded, and scrutinized by government authorities.”
He said the bill, authored by Representative Paul Wesselhoft, R-Moore, was an important move toward regulating government surveillance activity without interfering with the private use of drones.
“We are simply calling for accountability, transparency, and the continuation of our nation’s centuries old tradition of protecting our privacy from the prying eyes of the state,” he said.
The bill now goes to the Oklahoma Senate for consideration by a Senate Committee.
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