Three Sonoma County residents have filed a lawsuit against their local government, claiming violations of privacy rights due to the use of drones for surveillance without warrants. The ACLU, representing the plaintiffs, alleges that Sonoma County has misused drone technology, initially intended for tracking illegal cannabis cultivation, to conduct over 700 unauthorized aerial inspections of private properties since 2019. These actions reportedly led to unwarranted code enforcement actions, provoking a broader conversation on the implications of drones in government surveillance and privacy rights.
"For too long, Sonoma County code enforcement has used high-powered drones to warrantlessly sift through people's private affairs and initiate charges that upend lives and livelihoods."
"A spokesperson for Sonoma County said the county is reviewing the complaint and takes the allegations very seriously."
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