VPD now on record: US drones are monitoring Vancouver protests
Get ready for US-made spy drones perched on Vancouver rooftops. This week the Vancouver Sun finally asked some questions about where they came from and what they’re for. A few things are now on the record that weren’t before.
Two weeks ago I cited the BCCLA and Pivot Legal complaint from 2024 as evidence VPD had already used drones to surveil Palestine-solidarity protests, in violation of its own policy. The Sun went to the department and asked. VPD confirmed it: yup, the drones monitor marches and estimate crowd sizes. Individual identification only happens, they said, when there is “an investigative need.” The VPD decides when the need exists. So… ignore all the precedents for why this is a disaster-in-waiting and don’t worry?
The BC privacy commissioner’s office told the Sun that police are required to conduct a privacy risk assessment before launching a program like this. VPD did not do one, mind you. And it’s not clear if there’s any consequence or follow-up.
A criminal defence lawyer told the Sun that no Canadian appeals court has ruled on police drone use. The law hasn’t caught up. As militarized tech from the US rapidly rolls out across Canada our governments are failing us.
VPD has put six US-made automated drones in the sky over Vancouver, confirmed they’re watching protests, skipped the few required oversight steps. Expect more of this.