The Perceived Risks and Benefits of Drones and Their Various Uses

• In Event: Fear and Politics

Abstract

There are many different kinds of drones (Unmanned Aerial Vehicles) performing a wide variety of functions in our society today. Drones are currently being used for recreational, research, civic, commercial, and military purposes and present benefits and risks at the individual, community, and national level. In this presentation we present findings from a recent survey measuring the public’s perception of those risks and benefits, their trust in drone operators and regulators, and support for possible policies regulating the use of different types of drones.
Our findings reveal that while the public is concerned about the threats that drones pose to both our privacy and safety, they are split on what their mental image of what a “drone” actually is. In fact, the term used to refer to drones (remotely piloted vehicle, unmanned aircraft systems, etc.) has an impact on the public’s attitudes towards them. Furthermore, the level of concern regarding privacy and safety differ depending on what type of drone is under consideration, and for what purpose. Respondents were generally undecided whether they would support a total ban on drones, but the level of support differed based on the type and use of specific drones.

Authors

• Adam Zwickle, Michigan State University

• Joseph Hamm, Michigan State University