Combustible Collision: Police Use of Drones and Visual Surveillance Technology in the Black Lives Matter Era

• In Event: Social Media, Drones, and Policing: Perceptions and Possibilities

Abstract

Police departments across the United States are now integrating new visual monitoring technology (e.g., unmanned aerial vehicles [UAVs or “drones”], body cameras) into daily operations and routine police practices. Despite their benefits in multiple areas of policing (e.g., body cameras aid in transparency by providing a video record of police-citizen interactions; UAVs provide situational awareness without placing officers in harm), public attitudes toward the technology are mixed. Previous studies of public attitudes about police use of visual technology indicate substantial variability in opinion, as support often varies by who is using the technology (i.e., federal government, state or local police, private business, etc.) and how it is being used. In addition, growing public concerns about privacy and excessive surveillance reduce support visual technology. As an extension of previous research, the current study explores the interrelationship between socio-demographic characteristics, perceptions of police and police-citizen relations, crime related concerns and support for police use of visual monitoring technology. The results have implications for establishing responsive public policy on police use of visual surveillance technology and benefits for law enforcement practices overall.

Authors

• Miliaikeala SJ. Heen, University of Nevada, Las Vegas

• Joel D Lieberman, University of Nevada, Las Vegas

• Terance D. Miethe, University of Nevada, Las Vegas