Scientist Fear Curbs on Access to Satellite Data.

ARTIFICIAL satellites; UNITED States. Dept. of Homeland Security; SPACE surveillance; COUNTERTERRORISM; NATIONAL security; FEDERAL regulation; INFORMATION services; SCIENTISTS; FREEDOM of movement; ARTIFICIAL satellites in law enforcement

The article reports on the plan by the Department of Homeland Security to expand the use of the satellites for homeland security and law enforcement in the U.S. It asserted that the said plan has sparked protests from civil liberties advocates. They worry that federal, state, and local authorities will seek high-resolution, real-time images to monitor activities of citizens in the way that the satellites help track terrorist activities overseas. Moreover, the satellites are operated by defense agencies and used mainly for reconnaissance overseas.