The community is once again pleading with city officials to end SMS Novel’s plans to fly spy drones over their neighborhoods.
SMS Novel, a drone surveillance company that markets itself on X (formerly known as Twitter) as specializing in interactive Christian films, says it launched its drones over the city on February 5.
The company charges a monthly subscription fee of $9.99toanyone who wants to access the drone’s livestream. However, the feed is only accessible from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. EST each day.
On Thursday afternoon, concerned citizens attended the Board of Aldermen’s Public Safety Committee Meeting to advocate for Board Bill 199 , which would regulate the use of commercial drones in the city.
The bill, introduced by Ward 7 Alderwoman Alisha Sonnier, would “impose community-based safety regulations and restrictions on the operation of drones.”
The city does not currently have any regulations outside of those imposed by the Federal Aviation Administration governing the use of drones.