Drones may soon come to your neighborhood skies, courtesy of the Federal Aviation Administration, which plans to propose new regulations for domestic use of drone aircraft in January.
Seem strange? That’s because the United States military typically operates drones in Pakistan and Afghanistan to target and destroy enemy hide-outs. But domestic use of drones could soon be implemented, and the idea is popular with law enforcement; they say drone technology reigns superior to other modes of surveillance.
The robotic aircraft’s heat-seeking cameras can, for instance, clearly spot runaway criminals at night or navigate through narrow mountaintops in search of missing persons – more fluidly than a police helicopter.
However, there are national security and privacy-related concerns. A camera-equipped drone flying over a neighborhood or city has the capacity to survey or spy on what happens inside houses and buildings. Other issues include the possibility of drone hijackings by criminals or terrorists. And the pilotless craft is remote-controlled, so what happens when the operator loses signal with the drone?
WEIGH IN:
Why should law enforcement use drones? What are the pros and cons? If the federal agency approves drone use, would you support your local police department using this type of aircraft? As this technology becomes more widely accessible, will drone-based surveillance become more prone to abuse?
Guests:
Bob Osborne, Commander of Homeland Security Division of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department
Jay Stanley, Senior Policy Analyst with the ACLU's Speech, Privacy and Technology Project
Steven Gitlin, Vice President, Marketing Strategy and Communications, Aerovironment Inc., a world leading drone-making company