Military Drones Turned Inward: Border Tech Now Targets Protesters

Written by Parriva — September 26, 2025
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A California lawmaker has filed a bill to ban the use of military drones to monitor demonstrators in the U.S. following protests in Los Angeles during the summer.

According to the Los Angeles Times, the government in June deployed MQ-9 Predator drones to monitor the protests that followed the deployment of National Guard troops to the city.

These types of drones were typically used to survey the border and war zones, although they were used in 2020 in the wake of the death of George and the protests that followed.

The Times said their use reflects a change in how the government is choosing to deploy the aircraft, but local officials support the new legislation, and rights groups also warn that drones threaten civil liberties and 1st Amendment rights.

Local law enforcement agencies along the border are also using drones to help keep an eye on parts of the border where deputies tend to encounter smugglers in remote areas. However, criminal organizations in Mexico have also found a use for drones, monitoring border authorities from above and striking when they get an all-clear below.

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