Called for Higher Standards. Drones for Public Safety

Mateusz Dolata, Dzmitry Katsiuba

The event series aims to represent various topics in the philosophy of AI for an interdisciplinary audience, coming from interdisciplinary speakers. The format is hybrid, but a free aperitif will be offered to those coming in person.

Abstract

Drones are being increasingly utilized by public authorities, including the police force. Their use offers potential improvements in efficiency and safety. Although current regulations address citizens’ concerns about airspace safety and privacy, there is a lack of guidance for authorities on how to design and utilize drones in a manner that the public views as legitimate, particularly in the context of law enforcement. Specifically, there has been minimal attention paid to the unique concerns of witnesses and bystanders who are particularly vulnerable during crime and emergency situations. Without this understanding, the police may use technology that could intimidate the very people they are sworn to protect.

In this talk, I will delve into the criteria citizens employ when assessing the use of drones by public institutions such as the police or fire departments. Initially, I will examine drone usage from the viewpoints of legal and regulatory aspects, criminology and security, as well as technology acceptance. Subsequently, I will concentrate on the specific instance of police drone usage during robbery incidents. I will investigate the considerations and apprehensions citizens have regarding drone usage by public authorities, and suggest a theoretical framework to ensure legitimate use of drones. I will wrap up by demonstrating how some of the safeguards proposed in this framework can be effectively implemented through appropriate technology design.