The U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) has called upon the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to enhance support for state, local, and tribal law enforcement agencies in investigating unauthorized drone activity. A report released by the GAO emphasizes the need for improved resources and understanding of “remote ID” technology, which functions as a digital license plate for drones.
Remote ID technology enables law enforcement to remotely identify drones and gather real-time information during investigations into unauthorized drone operations. However, the report highlights a lack of resources provided by the FAA to assist state and local law enforcement agencies in utilizing this technology effectively. Furthermore, the report identifies a significant knowledge gap among law enforcement agencies regarding remote ID and its potential applications in investigations.
The report also identifies concerns regarding the effectiveness of location-broadcasting technologies, such as Wi-Fi or Bluetooth, utilized by remote ID for commercial drone operations.
To address these issues, the GAO recommends that the FAA develop resources to educate tribal, state, and local law enforcement agencies on remote ID usage. Additionally, the FAA should establish a plan and timeline for releasing drone-location software to law enforcement, along with mechanisms for providing real-time, networked data on drone location and status. The report also urges the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to develop a plan and timeline for its remote ID application.
Both the FAA and DHS have agreed with the report’s recommendations. FAA officials have indicated their intention to assess additional technologies that could aid in real-time drone identification. Failure to act on these recommendations, the report concludes, could jeopardize the FAA’s progress in integrating drones into the national airspace.