Local authorities in Britain have dramatically increased their use of drones, fueling fears that the government is monitoring or even spying on people from above, according to reports reports.
Data from the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) shows that more than sixty municipalities have hired staff certified to operate drones from the air, while at least a dozen other authorities are seeking guidance to launch similar programs.
Because the CAA only registers pilots sponsored by their employers, experts in Britain have since warned that the actual number of government-funded drone operators could be even higher.
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A drone is seen in the sky as Chinese drone maker DJI holds a demonstration to display an app that tracks the registration and ownership of a drone in Montreal, Canada, November 3, 2019. (Reuters)
British watchdog group Big Brother Watch has accused local authorities of drifting towards “spies in the air” tactics that are further eroding civil liberties in a country already under widespread CCTV surveillance.
Jake Hurfurt, head of research and investigations, warned that while drones can support legitimate tasks such as flood monitoring or land surveys, they should not become tools for unsupervised surveillance.
“There may be a role for drones in helping councils monitor floods or conduct land surveys, but local authorities should not use the technology as spies in the air,” he said.
“Britain is already one of the most surveilled countries in the world. With CCTV cameras on street corners, we don’t need flying cameras either. Councils must ensure they do not use this technology to intrusively monitor their citizens.”
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British local authorities have expanded their use of drones, fueling fears that the government is increasingly surveilling citizens. (Neil Hall/EPA/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
“Just because it’s possible doesn’t mean they should do it,” he added.
Previously, Hurfurt also criticized the use of drones by London’s Metropolitan Police as first responders, warning that the rollout is taking place without clear policies governing when, how or why drones can be deployed.
Without safeguards, he said, the technology risks becoming airborne CCTV or, worse, a way to monitor legal protest activity.
“Without robust security measures, there is a real risk of drones becoming flying CCTV cameras or watching people lawfully protesting,” he said in a statement shared online.
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A policewoman holds a drone during a demonstration of the Metropolitan Police’s new Drone as First Responder (DFR) pilot program at Islington Police Station. (Lucy North/PA Images via Getty Images)
“The Metropolitan Police must be transparent about the barriers to drone use and ensure that the rights of Londoners are balanced with the perceived benefits of drone use,” he added.
Despite the concerns, Hammersmith and Fulham Council plan to integrate drones into the 70-member law enforcement team, which issued more than 2,200 fines last year.
The council says drones will help tackle anti-social behaviour, supplement the lack of police staff and work alongside CCTV equipped with live facial recognition.
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Sunderland currently operates the council’s largest known drone fleet, with 13 aircraft and several trained pilots.
Their drones are used to detect and prevent crime, enforce environmental regulations and monitor public gatherings.
Other councils including North West Leicestershire, Stockton-on-Tees, Newcastle, North Norfolk and Thurrock are also said to be using drones for everything from planning enforcement to monitoring coastal disputes, according to GB News.
