The US Coast Guard has deployed at least six surveillance drones across the Great Lakes region this summer as part of an operation to monitor and track illicit activity in the waterways.

The sailing drones represent a new surveillance initiative in the Great Lakes, which have not traditionally been considered high-risk areas for drug trafficking or illegal immigration. The Coast Guard announced the deployment as part of efforts to enhance monitoring capabilities across the region's vast water systems.

Civil rights organizations and some local residents have expressed concerns about the surveillance program, questioning whether the drone operation could expand beyond its stated security objectives into broader data collection activities. These groups worry about the potential for expanded surveillance capabilities and data gathering on civilian activities in the region.

The Great Lakes system, consisting of five interconnected freshwater lakes along the US-Canada border, spans approximately 94,000 square miles of surface area. The region's extensive waterways and numerous entry points have prompted federal agencies to explore new monitoring technologies to enhance border security and law enforcement capabilities.

The surveillance drones are designed to operate autonomously on the water's surface, equipped with sensors and monitoring equipment to detect and track vessel movements and other activities across the lakes. The Coast Guard has not specified the exact duration of the deployment or detailed technical capabilities of the drone fleet.