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TMZ denies it is seeking a drone

TMZ, the Hollywood gossip site, is denying a report that it is seeking a drone from the Federal Aviation Administration in order to track celebrities.

The San Francisco Chronicle reported this weekend that the FAA "has been flooded with applications from police departments, universities, private corporations and even the celebrity gossip site TMZ, all seeking to use drones that range from devices the size of a hummingbird to full-size aircraft like those used by the U.S. military to target al Qaeda operatives in Pakistan and elsewhere."

(Also on POLITICO: FAA: TMZ never requested a drone)

"Paparazzi are already using small drones on the Riviera to shoot photos of celebrities in otherwise hard-to-access areas," the Chronicle reported, though TMZ does not yet have a permit, according to the FAA.

After the report was picked up today by Drudge Report, the influential conservative website, TMZ editors wrote their own post denying that they had filed any application with the FAA.

(Also on POLITICO: NPR affiliate launches drone program)

"TMZ is NOT getting in the DRONE business ... we don't have a drone ... we don't want a drone ... we never applied for a drone ... despite a bogus report to the contrary," the editors wrote. "Truth is ... while drones are, in fact, awesome ... it just ain't true. We could drone on and on ... but you get the point."

Casey Carver, a spokesperson with TMZ, referred POLITICO to the aformentioned post when asked for comment.

UPDATE: FAA spokesperson Ian Gregor tells POLITICO that TMZ never "requested or inquired about an authorization" to fly a drone.