AP: FBI Behind Mysterious Surveillance Aircraft Over U.S. Cities

The Patriot Act may be changing.

Certainly, that bodes well for American citizens everywhere.

Yet the U.S. government seems to be at it again with the latest reports coming out of the Associated Press.

In a shocking report that was just released moments ago, the AP claims that the FBI is controlling a small air fleet that involve countless, seemingly innocent aircrafts flying across the United States, collecting both video and cell phone data.

According to the AP, the FBI is operating these planes WITHOUT a judge’s approval and is using at least 13 front companies to do so.The agency also allegedly “shields the identity of the aircraft so that the suspects on the ground don’t know they’re being watched by the FBI.”

In response to the AP’s story, an FBI spokesman stated that the program “is not a secret.Specific aircraft and their capabilities are protected for operational security purposes.”He continued to add that the planes “are not equipped, designed or used for bulk collection activities or mass surveillance.

Still, very “basic aspects of the program” being kept secret from the public.The AP review found that in a recent 30-day period, the FBI flew above more than 30 cities in 11 states across the country.

Perhaps the worst part of this is that the planes can reportedly “capture video of unrelated criminal activity on the ground that could be handed over for prosecutions.”

Does this sit well with you vigilant viewers?  Should we enforce new policies protecting our civil liberties?

Sound off below.