Buzz Off Act

Subjects: Armed Forces and National Security, Aviation and airports, Government information and archives, Intelligence activities, surveillance, classified information, Law enforcement administration and funding, Photography and imaging

Summary:  <p><b>Buzz Off Act</b></p> <p>This bill prohibits federal law enforcement from using unmanned aerial vehicles to intentionally conduct surveillance of a specifically targeted U.S. citizen or the property of such an individual, with certain exceptions.</p> <p>Specifically, this prohibition shall not apply if (1) the federal law enforcement agency in question first obtains a search warrant, (2) the Department of Homeland Security certifies that such surveillance is necessary to counter a high risk of a terrorist attack by a specified person or organization, or (3) the citizen gives written consent.<br> </p>

<html><body><pre>[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 84 Introduced in House (IH)]

&lt;DOC&gt;






118th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                 H. R. 84

  To prevent agencies from using unmanned aerial vehicles to conduct 
    surveillance of United States citizens, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                            January 9, 2023

  Mr. Biggs introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
                       Committee on the Judiciary

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
  To prevent agencies from using unmanned aerial vehicles to conduct 
    surveillance of United States citizens, and for other purposes.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Buzz Off Act''.

SEC. 2. PROHIBITING USE OF UNMANNED AERIAL VEHICLES.

    (a) Surveillance.--A Federal law enforcement agency may not use an 
unmanned aerial vehicle to intentionally conduct surveillance of, 
gather evidence or collect information about, or photographically or 
electronically record a specifically targeted United States citizen or 
the specifically targeted private property of a United States citizen.
    (b) Exception.--Notwithstanding subsection (a), a Federal law 
enforcement agency may use an unmanned aerial vehicle to photograph, or 
otherwise record a United States citizen for the purposes of publishing 
or otherwise publicly disseminating such photograph or recording if the 
agency obtains the written consent of such United States citizen.
    (c) Applicability.--Subsection (a) shall not apply in the case 
that--
            (1) the President, acting through the Secretary of Homeland 
        Security, authorizes use of an unmanned aerial vehicle to 
        conduct surveillance if the Secretary certifies in writing 
        under oath that the surveillance is necessary to counter a high 
        risk of a terrorist attack by a specific individual or 
        organization; or
            (2) the head of a Federal law enforcement agency first 
        obtains a search warrant signed by a judge authorizing the use 
        of an unmanned aerial vehicle.
                                 &lt;all&gt;
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