The deployment of surveillance sailing drones on the US Great Lakes has sparked concerns among rights groups and local residents about potential data collection and privacy infringements. The US Coast Guard recently announced it has launched at least six Saildrone Voyager drones this summer to, in part, “track illicit activity” such as illegal fishing, human trafficking, and narcotics trafficking.
Drone Capabilities and Contract
The 33-foot-long Voyager drones can operate for 100 days without servicing and are equipped with radar, cameras, and artificial intelligence systems. They are part of a $15.5 million contract between the Coast Guard and Saildrone Inc., funded by the Trump-era “One Big, Beautiful Bill Act.” The drones operate under a “contractor-owned, operated” model, meaning Saildrone collects surveillance data and sells it to the government.
Privacy and Accountability Concerns
Petra Molnar, author of The Walls Have Eyes and associate director of the Refugee Law Lab at York University, called the arrangement “very troubling from a privacy and accountability standpoint.” She noted that there is little public information about data retention, access, or how recreational users could be swept into a border enforcement data system.
Five US states—Minnesota, Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and New York—share a Great Lakes water border with Canada. The Trump administration has accused Canada of allowing illicit drugs into the US, fueling tariffs on Canadian goods. However, data shows that Canadian border agents seize tens of millions of dollars’ worth of drugs entering Canada from the US each year. The US Customs and Border Protection did not provide a breakdown of drug seizures from Canada.
Effectiveness and Public Trust
Experts question the effectiveness of the drones on the vast Great Lakes, which cover an area the size of the United Kingdom. “Thirty-three-foot vessels cannot provide meaningful tactical coverage,” Molnar said, adding that the real purpose is to generate data for a persistent maritime domain awareness infrastructure.
Ryan Weekes, commodore of the InterCity Yacht Club, emphasized the need for transparency. “Boaters should have a clear understanding of what information is being collected, how it is used, and what safeguards are in place,” he said. However, Steve Hales of the Port Clinton Yacht Club supported the drones, stating, “The Great Lakes are a very soft border with Canada. To protect that, we need more presence.”
Future Developments
Last October, Saildrone announced a $50 million investment from Lockheed Martin to equip its 65-foot unmanned vessels with lethal defense technology, though a Coast Guard official said such systems are not envisioned for the Great Lakes. The drones’ locations can be tracked on Marine Traffic, where they are listed as pleasure crafts. Lake Erie, which has the highest number of recreational boaters among the border lakes, is a key area of deployment.
“Any new security initiative should be evaluated based on demonstrated need and effectiveness,” Weekes concluded. “Maintaining public trust is just as important as maintaining public safety.”
