TN drone trespass / FFUSA
Tennessee SB 796 — Freedom From Unwarranted Surveillance Act (Drone Trespass)
Tennessee · Tenn. Code Ann. §§ 39-13-609, 39-13-902 to -905
- Status
- In effect
- Took effect
- July 1, 2014
- Applies to
- All drone operators in Tennessee; Tennessee law-enforcement agencies
- Enforced by
- Tennessee Bureau of Investigation; local district attorneys
Tennessee prohibits warrantless drone surveillance by law enforcement, makes it a misdemeanor for any person to capture images of an individual or private property from a drone without consent, and bars using drones to surveil critical infrastructure or fireworks/sporting events.
Who is protected: Tennessee residents on private property; critical-infrastructure operators
Legal detail
Tenn. Code Ann. §§ 39-13-609, 39-13-902 to -905, originally added by 2013 Pub. Acts Ch. 470 (FFUSA) and 2014 Pub. Acts Ch. 876 (SB 1777), and amended by 2016 Pub. Acts Ch. 982.
Key facts
| Jurisdiction | Tennessee |
|---|---|
| Level | State |
| Strength | Moderate |
| Enacted | May 13, 2014 |
| Citation | Tenn. Code Ann. §§ 39-13-609, 39-13-902 to -905 |
| Private right of action | No, agency enforcement only |
| Penalties | Class C misdemeanor; suppression of evidence |
| Topics | consumer data privacy · police and surveillance AI |
| Statute | Tennessee General Assembly — Freedom From Unwarranted Surveillance Act |
More AI rules in Tennessee
- Tennessee Teen Social Media and Internet Safety Act · In effect
- TN SB 151 (2017 AV Act) · In effect
- Tennessee HB 2163 (AI-generated child abuse images are illegal 'material') · In effect
- Tennessee Information Protection Act (opt out of automated profiling decisions) · In effect
- Tennessee SB 837 (AI is not a 'person' under TN law) · In effect
- Tennessee SB 1580 (AI can't claim to be a mental health professional) · In effect
Related consumer data privacy rules elsewhere
- Vermont Data Broker Law (H.211) · Enacted (not yet in effect)
- Chatrie v. United States (Fourth Amendment protection for location… · Blocked / in litigation
- House Bill 2512 — Banning surveillance pricing by rideshare companies · Proposed / pending
- Kids Internet and Digital Safety Act (KIDS Act) (H.R. 7757) · Proposed / pending
- Maine LD 61 (employer surveillance disclosure & prohibition) · In effect
- Washington SHB 1672 (employee monitoring notice, ADS restrictions, emotion AI ban) · In effect
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