The Security Implications of Drone Technology?
Is society ready to deal with the possible security implications of drone technology?
The technology used for all drones is developing rapidly with latest versions packed with everything from the highest resolution cameras with live streaming to ‘sense & avoid’ technologies, ensuring that a drone does not fly into various objects along its route. Additionally, mobile phone technology has enabled “First Person View”, giving a whole new level of user experience and aiding in control.
Drone technology applications are endless, from Amazon testing faster delivery to of course military, police and intelligence uses. However, that does come with its own risks, especially regarding privacy and weaponization.
The use of drones to obtain photos/videos or as surveillance, has become a major issue since as far back as 2015, and as the technology evolves so too does the risk. There are many reports of drones being flown by paparazzi, over the properties of Hollywood stars and being used to gain elusive snaps of celebrity weddings.
New uses for drone technology are fuelling the modern age. Over 2000 drones were used in the 2019 New year celebrations in Singapore, China to create a stunning spectacle for the public. The cyber security risk of such a demonstration, and the threat of hacking even just a singular drone involved could have been catastrophic.
On a more serious note, the weaponization of drone’s is source of growing concern. Drone capabilities are now at that point where it is technically possible to deploy chemical or biological agents via a shop-bought drone with little modification. Additionally, most commercial drones have the capability to carry small payloads and drop their payloads with some rudimentary precision. These advancements are already being put to use in India, China and Israel to deliver tear gas in riot control.
Governments around the world are developing “Micro-Drones” barely the size of insects – primarily for reconnaissance purposes: but the future is here. The lethal potential of such advancements in technology is a factor that needs to be considered.
So how do we combat these growing threats?
In a Legal sense, the UK, terms of regulating drone use were announced in the 2019 statement “Drones and SIA Licensing”. In November of 2019, when the UK “drone operator registration” scheme became a legal requirement.
“Anyone with a drone weighing more than 250g (8.8oz) who fails to register it online with the Civil Aviation Authority or sit the competency tests could face fines of up to £1000 ($1250).”
(Civil Aviation Authorities: https://register-drones.caa.co.uk/individual)
Furthermore, the UK government quickly made changes to the law following incidents at Gatwick and Heathrow. They extended the no-fly exclusion zone around airports, ensuring that from March 2019, it’s been illegal to fly a drone within 5km of an airport. In a commercial sense the UK CAA has now published guidelines for drone operators stating that they do not fly drones within a distance of 150ft (50m) from people and property and not fly over 400 feet high.
Military and police units around the globe have high demand for the latest anti-drone technology. Commercial drones operate on the 2.4 gigahertz range and are fairly easy to block with the correct jamming technology, but in most countries, this type of technology is only available to government and law enforcement. In the UK and USA for example, it is unlawful to jam radio frequencies, but not illegal to own such devices.
A number of Police Forces around the globe, including the Swiss have turned to a very low-tech method to combat drones: the use of birds of prey. A few trials have taken place, with some success. Despite this Switzerland was one of the first countries in Europe to adopt anti-drone jamming technologies.
In the UK, the government is looking towards manufacturers to take the lead on geofencing technology that uses GPS coordinates to (technically) stop drones from entering defined areas, such as prisons or airport airspace.
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