As the use of unmanned drones nears full integration into the National Airspace System in 2015, a new National Center for Policy Analysis (NCPA) study urges exploration of the civilian, commercial and scientific applications of drones, while taking into account to the many concerns over civilian privacy.
• Drones are being developed to aid agriculture and wildlife, monitor and fertilize crops and track wild animals, as well as take scientific measurements for earth science research.
• Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) have also aided the Department of Homeland Security with monitoring the border and drug interdiction and could help domestic law enforcement with search and rescue, traffic monitoring and surveillance.
• Drone technology might also be applied to the motion picture, telecommunications and energy industries.
Growth hinges on the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), which is tasked with finding out how aerial drones can coexist with commercial airlines and comply with the privacy concerns of the public.
The Constitution’s Fourth Amendment guarantees citizens freedom from unreasonable search and seizure, and many people feel that drone surveillance infringes Fourth Amendment rights. As it stands now, the U.S. government has not set any limits on drone operations. The array of drone capabilities creates considerable concern that unmanned technology might be used to circumvent Americans’ constitutional protections. Consider:
• More than 350 U.S. drone attacks in Pakistan alone have killed an estimated 265 civilians and 2,096 militants.
• The 2011 U.S. drone attack in Yemen killed Anwar al-Awlaki, an American citizen placed on a “targeted kill” list for his links to terrorism.
• A standoff in North Dakota was the first publicized instance in which a drone was used in apprehending a U.S. citizen.
• In February 2013, journalists speculated that drones were used in the search for Christopher Dorner, a high-profile target in California who killed four police officers.
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