Drones = invasion of privacy

[Wondersense]

In my neighbourhood there is a man who owns a drone. He doesn't fly it often, but on the occasions I've seen him do it, he flies it illegally, over a built up area, over other people's houses.

He works as a volunteer for mountain rescue for a national park and it's very likely he has a very good live feed camera on it. He's used it to snoop on me at least twice, including at night time once where he was flying it close to my upstairs backroom window. I had a very strong, stark light on at the time which would have intrigued someone was able to see it, and I guess this man thought he'd get his drone out and snoop on what I was doing. Usually when I see him fly it, I give him the finger and he usually clears off shortly after that, usually back to his home, so I really think he does have a live feed camera on it. I recently almost reported him to the police and I have camera footage.

I find it frustrating that technology has given men another way to invade the privacy of women. Are there any stats on this issue? Anyone with similar experiences?

I'm already fed up with them ruining the atmosphere of tranquil places in nature. They're a damn nuisance and they ruin the experience of being outdoors for others. Now it seems like they're invading my privacy too??

Totally agree with you - our homes are supposed to be our sanctuaries from the outside world IMO. What you do in the privacy of your home should be private (barring any behavior that harms other humans or animals of course).

From upskirt cams to bathroom hidden cams to drones et al, creeps are able to expand their voyeurism like never before.

I have had men (not one but many over the years) follow me for miles (after yelling creepy shit at me at stop lights) - effectively forcing me to drive straight to police stations instead of my planned destinations to shake them off.

I don't think I have been the victim of the tech voyeurism but how would I know? Just because you are unaware or don't see it doesn't mean it isn't happening.

My neighbor who is a total asshole pervert shitbag likes to stand at his 2nd story window (giving him a direct view into my laundryroom and bathroom where I've since hung blackout curtains to curtail peeping even though it is obstructed but a 6ft wood privacy fence, his view is over the fence and unobstructed by the palm trees) and stare out at my house. He is terribly nasty in person, telling me to get off his 'fucking lawn bitch' when I approached to inform him that the power company was going to shut off power for six hours on a Monday morning for tree maintenance in preparation for a hurricane (from 9am - 3pm, in South Florida in August with a forecast of 99 degrees). I'd never said more than 'hello' or waved prior to this interaction (and prior to his noticing his creepy behavior). The power company said to spread the word to neighbors you encounter to ensure awareness since everyone is working from home (or may not receive text notifications as that is how they were notifying) and may miss the announcements. My apologies for the TMI... anyways, this guy will hang out next to my fence and stare over it (6ft tall wood privacy fence) at me while I go about my yard maintenance or exercise/play with my dog or whatever. I've called the police to request assistance not knowing what to do but per the police (they were noticeably unhappy to relay this info) because he is on his own property and not touching or making verbal threats I am stuck with it until he moves (or I sell my house). We've owned/lived in this house for 20+ years and this douche moves in a few years ago and day-to-day life suddenly changed. What if he films me and puts it online? Maybe he already has? Maybe before I noticed his creeping and was bathing or otherwise unaware of his view?

Bottom line, whether in person or via tech creeps are the darlings of the system while women's feelings of safety in their private spaces are clearly discardable.

I'm so sorry you are dealing with the drone creep Wonder. I'm right there with you even though the circumstances are a little different.

I completely agree. You can report them to the civil aviation authority but they seem to defer to the police.
If they have a licence for it (which they should) then I hope the licence could be revoked? If not then they are flying illegally anyway.
I think you'll need to speak to the police about it though.

It does suck, I've had several walks ruined by having to confront drone fliers buzzing their drones over my head and I imagine it's only going to get worse as more people buy the bloody things

Big future market for anti-drone drones.

I gave the finger to one being flown by a man as it hovered right above me on a beach while I was breastfeeding my DS last week. Whether he was a creep or not it was a total invasion of privacy. Wish the seagulls had attacked it

I had those racing ones shooting through the trees (my home borders public woodland) in my garden. It turned out that the flyers were unaware which trees were on private property (there's a few fences in the public woods so it's not clear) and apologised. The video did look very exciting, like something from Star Wars, and they had goggles with screens in them.

Could I suggest talking to him or posting a letter through his door? It doesn't sound as innocuous as the racing but, at worst, he'll carry on doing what he's already doing and, at best, he'll stop. If it doesn't work out, some fishing wire over the garden might ensnare it without being a visual nuisance.

@Pinktornado

I gave the finger to one being flown by a man as it hovered right above me on a beach while I was breastfeeding my DS last week. Whether he was a creep or not it was a total invasion of privacy. Wish the seagulls had attacked it

:(

Buy the best laser you can afford and shine it at the drone.

Eh? What does that do?

www.laserpointersafety.com/ilda-camera-info.html

You might be able to damage his camera.

@Gronky I really don't care how exciting the footage is. I'm just tired of seeing them and feeling that beauty spots are ruined by it. I did actually march to his row of houses to find out who it was. He was standing outside. When I did find out, he slithered back indoors. He knows he's not meant to be doing it. I really don't think a letter through the door would make any difference! People like that know full well they're taking the piss. If he does it again, he'll be reported to the police.

100% agree OP. Total pain in the arsenal.

Someone in my area has a drone which flies round our back gardens in good weather- very annoying & an invasion of privacy. It sounds like an angry bee.

I'm sorry if you got the impression that I was defending him, Wondersense, it wasn't my intent. It sounds as if the group I had trouble with were very different. I'm also sorry that you're in a situation where a quick chat wouldn't resolve the issue, I'd personally still probably send him a letter first (hoping that the threat of going to the police would stop him) but your perspective is much fuller than mine.

I’d also report him to the mountain rescue team if you know which team. They may not be able to do anything but embarrassing him to colleagues might make him think twice.

There’s a drone which flies round our village in the small hours and hovers outside peoples bedroom windows. The police do seem to be taking it seriously but haven’t worked out who owns it yet.

When I was in labour with my first dc, I was in the delivery room (2nd floor) and a drone kept coming to the window. It was horrible, there were no blinds on the window as the room was high up and also overlooked trees so I guess the hospital didn't think it necessary.
Horrible

You’re not allowed to lose eyesight of your own drone, so if you think he has then report him. But I agree, it’s frustrating and I don’t like them.

I had a group of teenagers call to my door yesterday looking for a drone that they said had possibly fallen in my back garden (it hadn't).

I'm not impressed - I should be able to sit in my back garden in my knickers if I want to. It's not overlooked by any windows, but obviously completely visible to drones.

Apparently this one was a birthday present for a 14 year old .

YY to any new tech seeming v quickly to be used in various ways that aren't good for women.

Not sure what can be done tbh.

And past drones, police officer was found to be flying helicopter for work and hovering to get a look at sunbathing women. FFS.

@Terralee You can report them to the police. The fine can be as much as a grand. It depends how far they've gone. In their situation, an anonymous letter through the door making them aware of the legal consequences might work. I don't have such a patient attitude with my drone neighbour though!

@Gronky I think it depends on the situation. Faced with a different problem with a different person, I might opt for the letter.

@JacobReesMogadishu I tried. It could be one of two but I tried both but I couldn't get through. Just kept going through to an answering machine. I wanted to let them know how their equipment might be being used. God that's bad about your village. Sounds much bolder and much more regular than mine (since I did the march to his house he's been very careful to fly it directly above his garden or very high in the sky). He's probably still breaking regulations but at least it's an improvment. Does yours do it at a specific time? You could always get a bird net! Would work a treat if they're coming close!

@Bbnncc

When I was in labour with my first dc, I was in the delivery room (2nd floor) and a drone kept coming to the window. It was horrible, there were no blinds on the window as the room was high up and also overlooked trees so I guess the hospital didn't think it necessary. Horrible

You what??????????????

That's disgusting! Some fucking voyeur or a guy with childbirth fetish. That must have been very upsetting.

@OrangeGeckoWithBlackSpots 14??

It’s fairly random, goes weeks without coming.
MRTs tend to have FB pages, look on their and see if you can work out which team he’s with.

I post on the local Facebook groups when there is one over our area. There is one guy on there who has a licence and uses them for his business so he helps clarify the laws.

I also mention safeguarding. They tend to stop quite soon after I post.

If it is made clear where it comes from and a post added about it being illegal you could give that a try, also mention it spying through your windows. Bad publicity seems to work for us, it might for you too.

I hope your chosen solution works out. In terms of working with the police, since the law is apparently at least 50m from your property a laser tape measure might help in establishing if he's too close. I have a very cheap one off ebay. It works outdoors and has a tripod screw in the base but I've never tried to measure a moving object.

www.caa.co.uk/Consumers/Unmanned-aircraft/General-guidance/Reporting-misuse-of-a-unmanned-aircraft-and-drones/

Police enforcement, but here are the Civil Aviation Authority's rules, including:

unless the remote pilot has permission from the CAA, he or she should not be flying a camera equipped unmanned aircraft within 150m of a ‘congested area’ (e.g. town or city) or at a public event

The definition of a congested area in relation to a city, town or settlement means:

'Congested Area’ in relation to a city, town or settlement, means any area which is substantially used for residential, industrial, commercial or recreational purposes

When the pilot does have permission from the CAA, such flights are usually restricted to flight distances no closer than 50m from people, vehicles and structures that are not ‘under the control’ of the pilot.

These restrictions mean that the use of a unmanned aircraft in public places is limited and often not suitable or legal unless the operator has received the appropriate permission from the CAA.

So, effectively, these voyeurs need to stay 50m away from others. Film them back. Call the police.

There are some good legitimate uses for drones but I can't see why they're on sale to the general public, given the nuisance and scope for voyeurism etc.