Murdoch accused of operating illegal US air force

[The Straight Story]

Murdoch accused of operating illegal US air force


Rupert Murdoch may soon have his front door kicked in by the US's Federal Aviation Administration, amid accusations that News Corporation has been operating an illegal air force.

According to this report down at Forbes, the media magnate's fondleslab-friendly e-rag The Daily is flying a md4-1000 microdrone (pictured), which back in May captured some aerial footage of storm-wracked Alabama.

Nice vid, but The Daily may be in breach of FAA regs regarding "operations of unmanned aircraft in the National Airspace System". As Forbes notes, the FAA requires wannabe drone pilots to have an airworthiness certificate for their "Unmanned Aircraft System" (UAS) and an "experimental certificate" which limits them to "research and development, marketing surveys, or crew training".

The FAA notes: "UAS issued experimental certificates may not be used for compensation or hire."

[Cool Logic]

1. When I was younger, I used to flay an RC plane.

I am thankful that my parents didn't have their front door kicked in by the US's Federal Aviation Administration.

[Vinnie From Indy]

3. How did it fly after being flayed?

n/t

[Cool Logic]

6. By keeping my pinkie off the A key.

[Vinnie From Indy]

4. delete

n/t

[MilesColtrane]

7. You were safe unless you were flying your toy plane over 500 ft.

The type of drone Murdoch was using can fly as high as 3,000 ft.

[dipsydoodle]

9. So if it was flying below 500' that's ok then ?

:shrug:

Just noticed the commercial use bit.

[dixiegrrrrl]

2. Link?

[BumRushDaShow]

5. Here's one link

http://www.businessinsider.com/news-corporation-drone-2011-8">http://www.businessinsider.com/news-corporation-drone-2011-8

Interesting.... ugh.

[seafan]

8. Murdoch accused of operating illegal US air force

Murdoch accused of operating illegal US air force

By Lester Haines
The Register (UK)

5th August 2011 10:09 GMT

Microdrone black ops threaten democracy

Rupert Murdoch may soon have his front door kicked in by the US's Federal Aviation Administration, amid accusations that News Corporation has been operating an illegal air force.

According to this report down at Forbes, the media magnate's fondleslab-friendly e-rag The Daily is flying a md4-1000 microdrone (pictured), which back in May captured some aerial footage of storm-wracked Alabama. ..... (The FAA's Les Dorr) later added: "We are examining The Daily's use of a small unmanned aircraft to see if it was in accordance with FAA policies."

The md4-1000 has a ceiling of 1,000 metres, and can operate within a radius of 1,000 metres (3,280 feet) via radio control for up to 70 minutes. Its maximum payload is 1,200g (2.64lb), meaning it can easily lift a camera and an electronics package such as that carried by the Wireless Aerial Surveillance Platform aircraft, aka WASP.

The WASP's compact computer may of particular interest to News Corporation since it is capable of sniffing Wi-Fi networks and intercepting mobile phone calls.

(bold type added)



The ramifications of what Murdoch is doing are mind bending. Spying on people and businesses, celebrities, politicians, activist groups, intelligence centers, research facilities, critical infrastructure, perceived political "enemies".


Does this make your blood run cold? Mine does.



FBI widens News Corp inquiry after alleged computer hacking by subsidiary

By Ed Pilkington
4 August 2011 20.41 BST

The FBI is widening its investigation of News Corporation's activities within the US to look at whether alleged computer hacking by one of its subsidiaries was an isolated case or part of a "larger pattern of behaviour", Time magazine is reporting.

Time suggests that the FBI inquiry has been extended from a relatively narrow look at alleged malpractices by News Corp in America into a more general investigation of whether the company used possibly illegal strong-arm tactics to browbeat rival firms.

The allegation of computer hacking was made by the retail advertising company Floorgraphics against the advertising branch of News Corp, News America. In a civil lawsuit against News Corp in 2004, Floorgraphics told a court that its website, protected by password security, had been breached 11 times over four months without authorisation.

.....

Time has obtained a copy of a confidential fax sent in the same year by a major investor in Floorgraphics to News Corp's chief financial officer, David DeVoe. William Berkley wrote: "We have just discovered evidence that our proprietary and password-protected computer files … has been breached by News America."

.....

"I just want to live forever," said News Corp. (NWS) Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Rupert Murdoch, clearly comfortable in a well-honed role: the man who wields immense power while being neither shy nor boastful about it. "I enjoy myself too much." ---Rupert Murdoch, at the McGraw-Hill Media Summit, February 8, 2007

Let's hope the FAA ---and the FBI--- are on the way to see Rupert Murdoch, wearing their door-down-kicking boots and handcuff-studded belt buckles.



Those of us who are demanding the return of Lady Justice would enjoy that very much.