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S. 1809119th CongressOn the floor calendarLatest action Feb 9, 2026Decoded by AI · checked against the record
The plain-language version leads. The official text is always the reference.
The Drone Espionage Act adds "video" to a federal spying law covering photos of military and defense sites.
35-second read · 4 questions answered below
S 1809, the Drone Espionage Act, amends Section 793 of Title 18 of the U.S. Code to add "video" to the list of materials, like photographs, that are illegal to capture or share of protected defense sites without authorization. This closes a gap that older law may not have clearly addressed for drone-captured footage.
The bill affects drone operators, journalists, researchers, and foreign agents who might record video near military installations, defense contractors, or other government security sites.
The change extends existing criminal penalties for unauthorized photos to video footage, meaning people recording protected defense sites by video could now face the same prosecution as those taking photos.
AI-drafted summary. Verify it against the official text before you act on it. Read the official bill on Congress.gov
Right now: it's on the Senate floor calendar. If the House changes it, it goes back to the Senate before reaching the President.
Latest action: — Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 316.