Drones Provide Significant Benefits, but Present Privacy Concerns, Witnesses Say
Drones can be useful tools for many industries, including real estate, insurance and technology, but present significant privacy concerns, particularly in the areas of data retention and public safety, witnesses said during a House Courts, Intellectual Property and the Internet Subcommittee hearing Thursday. Representatives questioned witnesses on the privacy practices used by their respective industries when operating drones, and about the ways innovation caused by drone technology should be leveraged with personal privacy.
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Subcommittee Chairman Darrell Issa, R-Calif., said the Federal Aviation Administration "punted" on regulating drone usage, and Congress is now faced with privacy issues raised by the increased prevalence of commercial drone use. "The FAA let us down," Issa said. The FAA is considering a proposed rulemaking on commercial and personal drone usage, and is approaching the Sept. 30 deadline mandated by Congress to integrate drones into the national airspace.
Brian Wynne, Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International CEO, said the absence of federal regulation is hurting the commercial opportunity for drones, and the FAA's current case-by-case system of regulation "isn't a long-term solution for the many commercial operators wanting to fly." Wynne urged Congress to legislatively clarify the FAA's authority so that it might be able to act.
Rep. Jerrold Nadler, D-N.Y., said drone technology holds significant promise, but with the new technology, assurance is also needed that an individual's privacy will be protected. Nadler said it seems a "mandatory regulatory structure" is warranted to regulate drones and ensure personal privacy. He also said he's concerned about noise pollution produced by drones in residential areas, and asked witnesses their thoughts on the retention of data collected by drones and whether individuals should have the right to know who's collecting the information and what the information is. "They should have the right to know what's being collected," said Chris Calabrese, vice president-policy of the Center for Democracy & Technology. Calabrese said he hopes Congress can find a way to ensure all the advantages of drones can be used without raising any privacy concerns.
Witnesses agreed congressional action is needed on privacy issues raised by drones, and Congress should be careful not to limit the positive effects drones can have on various industries. "It's important we get this right," Wynne said.