Big Brother - Satellites are watching

Satellites are becoming the newest method for law enforcement to catch lawbreakers. Last year, for instance, an Arizona farmer, Floyd Dunn, was fined $4,000 for growing cotton on his farm without an irrigation permit, according to a Wall Street Journal article on Jan. 27, 1998.

"It certainly has a 'Big Brother Is Watching You' flavor to is, says Larry Griggers, a director at the Georgia Department of Revenue. "But it prevents us from having to spend money for other types of enforcement." That agency plans to use NASA satellites to check for unreported timber cutting, and plans to share the photos with other state agencies, which could lead to a wide variety of enforcement actions.

In Arizona, state officials use a French satellite to compare the images with a database of water-use permits to determine which farmers might be exceeding water-use rules.

In North Carolina, several counties are using Russian satellite photos to find unreported building activities, agricultural development and other property improvements that would raise property-tax assessments.

In George, several small timber owners already have been fined a total of $2,000 in a test of a statewide program for allegedly cutting down trees without paying taxes. Some Georgia officials suggest the program could be used to look for objects as small as backyard porches, to check if homeowners have their construction permits in order.

Questions have arisen over this "Big Brother" situation as to the Constitutionality (the 4th Amendment give the right to be free in your person and papers from any unreasonable searches and seizures). The American Bar Association has organized a task force to explore that question, as well as such issues as how long photos can be kept on file and how freely they can be shared with police. Because U.S. Justice Department officials are on the task force, the recommendations are expected to influence how law-enforcement authorities and civil agencies use the new images and at what point they require warrants.
(from Wall Street Journal report, 1/27/98)