FBI surveillance aircraft over US cities for counterterrorism operations

Washington: The FBI is operating a small fleet of aircraft to conduct warantless surveillance for criminal or counterterrorism operations, a spokesman said Tuesday.

Although the Federal Bureau of Investigation was previously known to conduct surveillance, the program is being shown to be more widespread than previously known.

"The FBI routinely uses aviation assets in support of predicated investigations targeting specific individuals," spokesman Christopher Allen told AFP.

"The aircraft are not equipped, designed or used for bulk collection activities or mass surveillance."

He insisted the operations were conducted in accordance with FBI guidelines and those of the attorney general.

Small aircraft flew over Baltimore recently during race-tinged riots that broke out after the death of a black man following his arrest by police.

"The FBI's aviation program is not secret; specific aircraft and their capabilities are protected for operational security purposes," Allen explained.

In order to tamp down the public's fears of widespread wiretapping, the US Senate meanwhile approved a landmark measure that ends the government's bulk data collection of Americans' phone records, while reauthorizing other surveillance powers that lapsed this week.

Computer consultant Edward Snowden revealed that program by leaking classified information from the National Security Agency to media outlets.

A recent inspector general report found that the FBI aviation program is a "valuable component of the FBI's counter terrorism, counterintelligence and criminal investigative operations."

"According to FBI personnel, aviation support significantly benefits FBI investigative and intelligence efforts and enhances the safety, anonymity and effectiveness of its operations," it added.

But neither the program's budget, the number of pilots or the number of aircraft in the fleet were revealed in the report.