Big Hover or Big Brother? Public Attitudes on Using Drone Technology for Visual Surveillance Activities

• In Event: Police, Cameras, and Visual Surveillance

Abstract

Federal law enforcement agencies (e.g., FBI, ATF, DEA, and the U.S. Marshals Service) are increasingly using unmanned aerial systems (i.e., drones) for numerous surveillance purposes, ranging from missing person searches and drug-related investigations to aerial reconnaissance. State and local law enforcement agencies in the United States are eager to adopt this type of sophisticated surveillance equipment. Although drones are often economically and practically more efficient than manned aircraft, the use of surveillance in public places poses considerable privacy concerns. Current existing statutes and regulations are proving to be inadequate to protect against such privacy issues.

This paper presents results from a national survey that was administered to measure public perceptions about drone technology and its domestic use. Specifically, the authors examined the level of public tolerance for drone usage by law enforcement agencies and the level of confidence in those agencies, as well as in the security of data gathered by drones. These public attitudes toward visual surveillance technology are assessed in a variety of private and public contexts. The implications of our findings for public policy and law enforcement practices are discussed.

Authors

• Mari Sakiyama, University of Nevada, Las Vegas

• Joel D. Lieberman, University of Nevada, Las Vegas

• Terry Miethe, University of Nevada, Las Vegas