SFPD Drone Surveillance Footage Leaked Online, Exposing Real-Time Police Operations In mid-June, the San Francisco Police Department (SFPD) inadvertently exposed live drone surveillance footage to the public internet, revealing an extensive aerial monitoring operation. Security researchers Sam Curry and Maik Robert discovered the leak, which included real-time video feeds from five Skydio X10 quadcopters complete with color and thermal imaging, GPS telemetry, and the identities of drone pilots. The leaked footage captured a high-profile police manhunt on a Saturday afternoon, where drones tracked a suspect accused of an "auto boost/strip" incident theft of car parts or property from a vehicle. The drones followed the suspect’s black SUV, zoomed in on its license plate, and maintained surveillance as he fled on foot into an apartment complex. Four drones were deployed within an hour, providing multiple angles as police closed in and tackled the man. Additional footage showed forced detentions, searches of an alley with homeless individuals, and routine surveillance of vehicles and pedestrians. The exposed data included 60 videos from 20 flights over 48 hours, documenting hundreds of people and vehicles. Analysis of the footage revealed clear facial images of dozens of bystanders, along with second-by-second flight logs detailing each drone’s location, altitude, and speed. The leak also exposed the names and email addresses of six SFPD drone operators. Curry and Robert reported the vulnerability to Skydio, which promptly secured the feed. However, the incident raised significant privacy concerns, as the drones captured sensitive police operations and civilian activity without public oversight. The SFPD, which rarely releases drone footage even under public records requests, had not intended to make the footage accessible. The accidental livestream underscored the potential risks of unchecked aerial surveillance.