Drone Over Protest in Turkey Shot Down by Police, News Drone Over Protest in Brazil Mistaken for UFO

UAVs not UFOs

Jenk K/Vimeo

Unmanned aerial vehicles are playing a role in recent protests in both Turkey and Brazil. In Istanbul, police shot down a remote-controlled quadcopter one protester was using to capture video of demonstrations in the city. The shooting down of the drone was also captured on video. Protesters in Turkey accused the media of ignoring them and many Turks relied on social media and citizen journalism to learn about what was going on at protests in their country.

In Brazil, meanwhile, media outlets are using news drones to capture footage of massive nationwide protests that have gripped the country. There, one Sao Paulo cable channel's UAV was mistaken for a UFO by protesters. Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff told protesters her government was listening to them, but that didn't stop the protests or the often violent police crackdowns.

Video of police shooting down the remote-controlled drone in Istanbul:

And video of the news drone over Sao Paolo:

Comments

[Brett L]

Hat-tip on Turkish drone story: Dispeptic Commenter Brett L on a weekend thread.

[Fist of Etiquette]

There, one Sao Paolo cable channel's UAV was mistaken for a UFO by protesters.

In their defense, it was an object, it was flying and they hadn't identified it.

[dinkster]

OT: illegal masks!

[Paul.]

*shrug*

Canada has passed a law making it illegal to wear a mask during a riot or unlawful assembly, punishable with a 10-year prison sentence.

Sometimes Reason likes to go on about Canada's superior freedoms. It's always a nice reminder that Canada has no right to freedom of speech or explicit right to assemble.

I still say it's better to have a first amendment that's ignored than it is to have no first amendment.

[Robert]

But that's typical law in the States too; you just didn't realize it. It was enacted mostly as an anti-KKK measure. Still applicable in NY AFAIK.

[Paul.]

Oh, and this:

Typically, the most rational and cogent thought can be found below the line at CBC News. The wily Rumble Rally suggested that he would "plead religious justification because the religion I belong to fervently believes in regulating corporate greed and financial bullying and in the furthering of decent, non-sociopathic humane choices." A good point. Well made. But perhaps just missing the key fact that it is still? never mind.

The government is going to put you in jail for 10 years if you wear a mask during a protest. And all your problems are? KOCHPORASHUNS!!!

I really, fucking hate people sometimes. Fuck the occupy movement.

[Bam!]

Reminds me of when The Chasers War On Everything visited Dick Chaney's house dressed as Barney The Dinosaur, demanding back royalties. Police were called and said it was a felony to disguise your identity.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?f.....fXs#t=129s

[Paul.]

IN that case, the police were wrong (which they usually are). In Canada's case, not so much.

[Spiny Norman]

Ian McDonald wrote about this in The Dervish House, although he set it in the future.

Remember when the future hadn't happened yet? We were so innocent then.

[sarcasmic]

Couldn't have been a cop. Their marksmanship sucks.

[dinkster]

Who said it was only one shot?

[sarcasmic]

Did you watch the video?

[dinkster]

Actually I skipped all the boring parts, haha.

[Paul.]

I watched it without sound. Could you hear the shot or was it just seen?

[dinkster]

In my defense, if you turn the sound up, you can hear two separate pops prior to the sound of the bullet hitting the UAV toy.

[Warrren]

Back and to the left! Back and to the left!

[Almanian!]

that's just awesome

[tarran]

All Turks are required to go through army training.

Thus their cops are likely better trained with firearms than american cops.

[Warrren]

You didn't capitalize America, you terrorist!

[tarran]

Hey terrorist! Terrorize this!

[Warrren]

Fuck yeah!

[Rich]

Probably just get hit by some celebratory random firing into the air.

[Paul.]

By the way, in case no one has made this obvious connection yet, governments will suddenly become very concerned about drones, and start regulating the hell out of them. Because now the wrong people are using them.

[Warrren]

And by regulation you mean the gov gets them and we don't.

[Almanian!]

It's definitional, I believe

[Paul.]

*ding*

[Almanian!]

Exactly. Can't have unregulated drones being manned by civilians! Someone might get HURT by one of those!

/umpteen dead Pakistani, Afghani, etc. "collaterals"

[Rich]

The Founders never even *dreamed* about drones!

[dinkster]

ol' Benjie only had a kite.

[Acosmist]

And lots of syphilis.

[Pro Libertate]

I've got "That's not a drone. This is a drone." in my head for some reason.

[AlmightyJB]

I need to get one of those things.

[Robert]

There's no mistaking something for a UFO. Something being "mistaken for a UFO" is properly taken as a UFO.