Despite this, civil society has been slow to embrace technologies, such as drones, that are opening our skies, observed Austin Choi-Fitzpatrick during a public lecture at the School of Public Policy (SPP) at CEU on May 12. Choi-Fitzpatrick, who was an assistant professor at SPP from 2013 to 2015, is now an assistant professor of political sociology at the Kroc School of Peace Studies at the University of San Diego.
Choi-Fitzpatrick went on to explain that when he speaks of drones and other new technologies, he is not thinking of the large fixed-wing devices that come equipped with missiles and are used most often in combat situations. "I'm talking about something else – something smaller, with less technology, that's cheap, and can be built at home," he said. Choi-Fitzpatrick noted that there are similarities between the two types of devices: they both exist in a legal limbo, are opening up new spaces, and are difficult to regulate. There are also dramatic differences between the two – including how they are used, the cost, the size, and how and where they are built.
Choi-Fitzpatrick shared some interesting examples of how drones are being used today to, for example, deliver blood in Rwanda, test water, document deforestation in Indonesia, and curb wildlife poaching. The use of drones for these and other purposes escalated dramatically in 2012-13, and has been growing steadily ever since. While governments were the largest users of drones until 2012-13, this is no longer the case. Business, science, individual hobbyists, and civil society actors are also using drones.
Choi-Fitzpatrick reminded his audience that he and others, including Tautvydas Juskauskas (MPA '15), used drones in Budapest in fall 2014 to document the size of the demonstrations protesting a proposed internet tax. Having a drone overhead not only allowed for more accurate crowd estimations, it also opened up new space. Being present overhead offers a new perspective on what is taking place on the ground. It can also allow one to see things that cannot be seen from the ground – such as deforestation that has taken place far away from roads, and solar panels that are on rooftops.
As more and more people gain access to the skies, there are increasing questions about how to balance safety and privacy – questions that Choi-Fitzpatrick argued needed to be addressed. "Civil society is not talking about these issues – and it should," he said. Choi-Fitzpatrick said that the challenge would be to figure out how to use these devices so that they increase trust and accountability. "I'm an optimistic guy," he concluded. "I'm confident that we're going to find ways to do this."
Choi-Fitzpatrick's talk drew on the findings from a recently-released report on non-violent drone use.
Watch the full lecture and a short interview with Choi-Fitzpatrick below.