Report: The FBI Has Its Own Surveillance Air Force

Newsweek reports:

The FBI is operating a “small air force” of planes equipped with video and cellphone surveillance technology (known as stingrays), according to a reportreleased Tuesday by The Associated Press.

The wire service says it traced at least 50 aircraft to the bureau and more than 100 flights since late April. The flights took place across at least 11 states, in both rural and urban areas, including Houston, Phoenix, Seattle, Chicago, Boston, Minneapolis and Southern California, the AP reports.

Though the planes are usually disguised as belonging to fake companies, including FVX Research, KQM Aviation and NBR Aviation, the FBI says the program is not being hidden. "The FBI's aviation program is not secret," spokesman Christopher Allen told the AP. 

However, the FBI did ask the wire service not to disclose the names of the front companies, saying it would force the bureau to create new ones, which would come at a cost to taxpayers. The AP declined the request.