Unregulated drones and an emerging threat to right to privacy: A critical overview

Abstract

There is a huge question of whether current laws in different jurisdictions around the globe can adequately protect a population’s fundamental rights from the threats presented by drone technology. The market for drones is expanding rapidly. They offer certain attractive services, but the mere operation of these airborne machines poses great threats to people’s privacy and safety. Drones — also called unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) — are planes without a human pilot. Drones have been used by military organisations for over a decade, but in recent years their use in commercial and recreational capacities has been growing. They are, however, becoming a serious risk to citizens’ fundamental rights. This paper discusses UAVs’ technological capabilities and how they are beginning to affect fundamental rights of privacy. The paper identifies possible future directions in the fields of civilian security and privacy.