Intel officials have warned police that American cities are not ready for hostile drones

In the memo obtained by WIRED, DHS shows less confidence in its ability to detect threatening drones. The document, which authorities have been instructed not to release to the public, states that “tactics and technology to evade counter-drone capabilities are being traded and sold online with little or no regulation.” In fact, police’s ability to track down errant drones is hampered by a host of cutting-edge technologies, the memo says, including “autonomous flight, 5G command and control, jamming protection technology, swarming technology, and software that disables geofencing restrictions.” .

The mystery in New Jersey and similar phenomena in Pennsylvania, New York and Maryland, among other states, have highlighted ongoing efforts by state and federal lawmakers to expand government access to counter-drone technology. Speaking to reporters via Zoom on Saturday, a Department of Homeland Security official said the agency is urging Congress to “expand and expand existing counter-drone authorities,” and ensure “state and local authorities are provided with the tools they need to respond to such threats as well.”

Currently, only a handful of federal agencies — including the Department of Homeland Security and the Departments of Energy, Justice and Defense — are legally allowed to shoot down a drone within U.S. airspace.

Ryan Shapiro, executive director of PEOPLE, says the August memo shows that DHS is working steadily to acquire new technologies and legal privileges for law enforcement. But he says any impact on Americans’ civil liberties should not be justified simply by citing a “vague and misleading threat.”

While terms like “violent extremist” conjure images of neo-Nazis and domestic terrorists hoping to incite a second civil war in the United States, Shapiro says the government has also deceptively applied such labels to help undermine animal rights groups. At the request of companies. He says activists have relied heavily on drones over the past decade for help Gather evidence of cruelty on factory farmsSecret recording has been criminalized under so-called “ag-gag” laws.

During Saturday’s briefing, FBI officials said authorities received nearly 5,000 tips from drones regarding the East Coast sightings, ultimately generating about 100 viable leads. They said most reports appear to be consistent, with misidentified flights landing and taking off from major airports in the area.

While the FBI has worked to allay fears stemming from the recent sightings, it has also urged Americans not to dismiss the idea that rogue drones pose a serious threat. “It is known to us that criminals breaking the law are actually using (drones) to support their actions,” one official said, adding that by contrast, recent large-scale sightings appear largely benign.

In a statement to WIRED, a Department of Homeland Security spokesperson said the agency continues to “advise federal, state, and local partners to remain vigilant for potential threats and encourages the public to report any suspicious activity to local authorities.”