Drones have been making the headlines lately with their military use, especially in the Middle East. When we think about drones, we picture spy planes and overseas espionage. However, as the US war efforts have been decreasing, these drones are being repurposed for non-military applications. Whether it’s a floating TV station streaming a live video feed to the web, a hard-to-detect paparazzi tool, a tool for police to use to catch suspects, or a government spying tool, the power of this technology is frightening.

There are forecasts that there will be over 30,000 drones hovering in American skies by 2020.

With great power comes great responsibility. But can we trust this power to any person or agency that has access to a drone? Legally there are few rights that Americans have to avoid being spied upon, with the United States Supreme Court declaring that individuals have no “expectation of privacy” in public places and even in their private property from public airspace.

Where do we draw the line? How can this technology remain legal while we make sure it remains in the right hands and keeping our right to privacy protected?

Also recommended for you: