10-Year Penalty – CLOSES Loophole!
Chinese spies are flying drones over U.S. military bases, but Congress is finally stepping in to close a ridiculous legal loophole that lets foreign agents capture video of our sensitive defense sites without breaking the law.
At a Glance
- New bipartisan legislation aims to criminalize drone videography of U.S. military sites with penalties of up to 10 years imprisonment
- Current Espionage Act of 1917 prohibits photography but incredibly doesn’t cover video footage of sensitive defense installations
- Bill responds to alarming increase in Chinese nationals using drones to surveil U.S. military bases
- The Drone Espionage Act would give federal prosecutors tools to prosecute foreign agents conducting aerial surveillance
- Multiple Chinese citizens have already been caught and sentenced for drone surveillance of critical defense sites
A Century-Old Law With a Modern Loophole
Only in America could we have a law protecting our military bases that’s so outdated it might as well be written on parchment. The Espionage Act of 1917 – yes, that’s 107 years ago – prohibits photography of sensitive defense sites but somehow forgot to include video recording. Probably because motion pictures were barely a thing back then, and the Wright brothers had only recently figured out how to get off the ground. Fast forward to the 21st century, and our enemies are exploiting this legislative fossil.
Representatives Jen Kiggans (R-Va.) and Don Davis (D-N.C.) have introduced the Drone Espionage Act to close this absurd loophole that’s essentially giving foreign agents a free pass to conduct aerial reconnaissance of our most critical military installations. The legislation would amend Section 793 of the ancient Espionage Act to finally include “video” among the criminal information-gathering means that can be prosecuted. How this wasn’t already on the books defies all logic.
China’s Drone Army Already at Work
While our politicians were busy debating pronouns and funding transgender story hours, China has been hard at work deploying its citizens to gather intelligence on American soil. Recent cases involve multiple Chinese nationals caught red-handed flying drones over sensitive military locations. In one case, Yinpiao Zhou was sentenced for using a drone to capture images of Vandenberg Space Force Base in California. In another, Fengyun Shi was nabbed for similar surveillance activities.
“As China and other adversaries ramp up threats and increase their drone usage, we must send a clear message that we will not tolerate unlawful surveillance on American soil” – Kiggans.
Mysterious drone sightings in Virginia’s Hampton Roads region and along the East Coast have raised significant alarm bells. Of course, the White House claims some drones were “authorized” or “lawful,” but when have they ever been straight with the American people about national security threats? The same administration that can’t figure out how to secure our southern border wants us to trust them on aerial espionage? Please.
Real Consequences for Enemies of America
The proposed legislation would finally put some teeth into our counterespionage efforts by establishing serious penalties for unauthorized drone surveillance. Violators could face fines, imprisonment for up to 10 years, or both. Rep. Kiggans, a Navy veteran representing one of the most military-heavy districts in the country, understands what’s at stake better than most of the career politicians in Washington who couldn’t find China on a map.
“As a Navy veteran who represents one of the most military-heavy districts in the country, I know how critical it is to safeguard our national defense infrastructure and protect sensitive national security information” – Kiggans.
Meanwhile, as we fumble with bureaucratic red tape, the Chinese Communist Party is methodically gathering intelligence on our naval shipyards, air bases, and Space Force facilities. The bill defines “sensitive national defense sites” broadly to include military installations, equipment manufacturing facilities, and other critical infrastructure. This is common-sense legislation that should have been passed years ago, but I guess better late than never when it comes to protecting America from the prying eyes of hostile foreign powers.
“We need a common-sense approach to protect our military installations and safeguard classified information.” – Davis.
