A few years ago, Stephen Hawking narrated a mini-series called Masters of Science Fiction, loosely based on realistic science gone awry. One of the episodes is called Watchbird, where the US begins using drones for law enforcement and pretty soon they decide to make the weaponized. The drones start accidentally shooting innocent US citizens and there are subsequent coverups to hide the truth.
Now, just how far from the truth is this sort of thing? There have been recent incidents of law enforcement threatening to shoot down a glider pilot legally flying over a nuclear plant.
Do you really trust the powers that be (let alone the corporations developing this technology with a profit motive) to do the right thing for the public?
I think this is a slippery slope for aviation safety and also civil liberties. I may sound Orwellian but I feel like there are far too few "checks and balances" these days.
A few years ago, Stephen Hawking narrated a mini-series called Masters of Science Fiction, loosely based on realistic science gone awry. One of the episodes is called Watchbird, where the US begins using drones for law enforcement and pretty soon they decide to make the weaponized. The drones start accidentally shooting innocent US citizens and there are subsequent coverups to hide the truth.
Now, just how far from the truth is this sort of thing? There have been recent incidents of law enforcement threatening to shoot down a glider pilot legally flying over a nuclear plant.
Do you really trust the powers that be (let alone the corporations developing this technology with a profit motive) to do the right thing for the public?
I think this is a slippery slope for aviation safety and also civil liberties. I may sound Orwellian but I feel like there are far too few "checks and balances" these days.