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At a recent U.S. House hearing that followed the federal government's announcement of plans for six drone test sites, a Republican congressman, Rep. Paul Broun of Georgia, said citizens "are just frightened" about the use of drones and possible "invasions of their privacy and violations of their civil rights."
The prospect that as many as 10,000 unmanned planes and helicopter-like surveillance devices could be launched into the nation's skies in the coming years might have once been regarded as a science-fiction scenario. But no more.
The Federal Aviation Administration, which sought the test-site proposals, has been working under a congressional directive to figure out how drones could be deployed safely above U.S. communities as soon as September, 2015.
The prospect of using drones on domestic shores -- and not just for military purposes abroad in the war on terror -- holds great promise, but also poses great challenges.
From an economic standpoint, there's little doubt that thousands of well-paying jobs could be generated in aviation-related industries if domestic drone use for surveillance takes off.
As for drones' possible uses, in the hands of civilian and law enforcement authorities, businesses, and individuals, the relatively inexpensive gadgetry could aid in search-and-rescue missions, crime-fighting, commercial photography, land-use surveying, and even news-gathering.
The challenges, though, are just as daunting, including the potential threat to safety in the air and on the ground, and the new privacy risks that could prove to be the tipping point toward a surveillance society.
Technological solutions, presumably, will solve the safety issue. For instance, drones currently don't have the ability to detect other aircraft nearby. There are concerns, too, about assuring that the wireless link between their on-the-ground operators and drone devices cannot be broken or hacked.
It's less clear, though, how communities will deal with the quantum leap in surveillance posed by drone flights. The FAA has called for comments on privacy concerns, and would require that test sites follow federal and state laws.
Meanwhile, much more thought needs to be given to whether existing privacy laws are adequate.
Some communities are already stepping up with moratoriums, outright bans on police using drones to gather criminal evidence, or requirements that warrants be secured for certain drone flights.
All these concerns need to be worked out before federal authorities grant permission for domestic drone flights, and it would be best if these safeguards were developed at the federal level to assure uniform privacy protections.
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(c)2013 The Philadelphia Inquirer
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February 26, 2013 @ 9:57 am
Considering how “our” government turns almost everything against Americans, this sounds like a serious problem in the making.
February 26, 2013 @ 10:08 am
We have tons of techno-geeks in this country. And not all of them being pure-hearted, peaceful, lovers-of-their-fellow-man types. Combine techno-geek hackers (whether “just for kicks” or evil intent) and thousands of drones overhead…and we’re talking some serious problems. Right now, everyone is understandably freaking about nut-cases out there taking guns and shooting up schools and other “gun-free zones”. It seems to be the “In” thing to do. Just wait until we replace the gun-armed nut-case with a fuel-laden drone-armed hacker. We could go from a few schoolchildren harmed with a gun to hundreds of victims at schools, malls and sporting events. How will these politicians pushing drones on us feel about these drones when they come crashing into their own homes and offices? I hope and pray I’m completely wrong…but there’s that slim chance I’m right.
February 26, 2013 @ 10:38 am
We the people have gone from free to watched. Oh how fun, so we are all just children to be watched by the nanny state. Actually don’t want or need anyone looking over my shoulder to see I am doing is done correctly or legally. Both are a given with me. If I want a dolt to watch what I’m doing I’ll stop a short bus.
February 26, 2013 @ 11:51 am
With hundreds then later thousands of drones spying in the skies, just wait for the first mid air collision of a Commercial Airliner and a Civilian or Military or Hacked Drone. Who will want to fly the friendly skies after that?
February 26, 2013 @ 12:05 pm
Sounds suspiciously like the world that George Orwell warned could happen in 1984. Amazing how something that seemed so ridiculous 20 years ago is coming to pass. It is scary.
February 26, 2013 @ 12:24 pm
PEOPLE ARE NOT AFRAID OF DRONES IN AMERICA
People are afraid of the power mad politicians that want to gain control and more control and more control
February 26, 2013 @ 12:58 pm
With the use of drones, the Illuminati State could really micro-target specific areas with heavy metals and pesticide sprays so that we ‘eaters’ will keel over sooner. Just keep taking your ‘Somma’, it will all be over soon.
February 26, 2013 @ 9:51 pm
This article seems to point out that drones are not so bad. To say that they might be the tipping point to a surveillance society is nonsense. We crossed that tipping point quite some time ago.
This is just an escalation into a surveillance society.
And I will tell you that this is a precursor into patrolling the skies with armed drones. This is just another step which the tyrants want to get into place so that when riots or revolution finally breaks out, they will have all the tools of force they need to crush it.
I say no drones. None. For whatever reason. Oh yes, this will create jobs. Jobs like the bloated TSA jobs. Jobs like the DHS jobs. Yes, let’s just make lots of government jobs. Forget about cutting spending or taxes or doing anything which would actually allow real non-governmental jobs to be created.
NO DRONES!