Introduction ..................................................................................................................................... 1
Background, Uses, and Drone Technology ............................................................................... 2
Fourth Amendment “Search” Jurisprudence .................................................................................... 4
Privacy in the Home .................................................................................................................. 6
Curtilage and Open Fields ......................................................................................................... 7
Manned Aerial Surveillance ...................................................................................................... 7
Government Tracking ................................................................................................................ 8
Border Searches ....................................................................................................................... 10
Warrants, Suspicionless Searches, and Special Needs ............................................................ 11
Application of Fourth Amendment to Drone Surveillance ............................................................ 12
Location of Search ................................................................................................................... 13
Technology Used ..................................................................................................................... 14
Warrant Requirement and Suspicionless Drone Searches ....................................................... 17
Legislative Proposals in the 113th Congress to Constrain Domestic Use of Drones ...................... 18
Preserving Freedom from Unwarranted Surveillance Act of 2013 (H.R. 972) ....................... 18
Preserving American Privacy Act of 2013 (H.R. 637) ............................................................ 18
Drone Aircraft Privacy and Transparency Act of 2013 (H.R. 1262) ....................................... 20
Conclusion .................................................................................................................................... 21