Comment from Janet Cameron

Factory farms are built to keep the public out. Miles of fencing, no roadside view, no way for you to see how the animals inside are actually treated. In recent years, drones have been one of the tools that have helped us see over that wall — capturing what these facilities don't want anyone to know. The agency has proposed a rule that could let the largest, most powerful factory farms in the country ban drones from flying anywhere near their facilities. It's being sold as a safety measure. It is not. There is no documented case of a drone harming a person, an animal, or a piece of equipment at one of these facilities in the US. What drones have done is expose the repeated lies, cruelty, and pollution I oppose allowing food and agriculture facilities to obtain Unmanned Aircraft Flight Restrictions (UAFRs). Drone photojournalism is one of the only tools the public has to see inside factory farms and hold them accountable. There is no documented evidence of drones threatening safety or security at these facilities, but there is a documented history of drone footage exposing false marketing claims, environmental violations, and animal welfare abuses. This rule could let the largest, most powerful operations shield themselves from scrutiny — the opposite of what the public interest requires. I urge the FAA not to develop gating criteria for this sector and not to grant UAFRs to food and agriculture facilities.