US to use drones on its own soil

The planned use of unmanned aircraft in U-S airspace has been one of the biggest stories in the country in recent months. This week, federal officials sought proposals to create six drone test sites around the country. The Federal Aviation Administration is the governing body that would allow the drones to be flown in US airspace. The FAA posted an online draft plan for privacy protection. The plan would require test sites to follow federal and state laws and to allow regulations to be viewed publicly. However, many are skeptical that privacies will be protected.

Privacy advocates worry that the spread of drones will add to the surveillance that Americans already experience online. They say it could lead to a big brother, surveillance society. Federal officials are moving on a law enacted a year ago to develop sites where civilian and military drones can be tested for integration into US airspace. Right now, much of the skies are limited to manned flight. The US government seeks to use drones that are relatively cheap to use and wide scoping in their application. Engineers have created drones as small as a hummingbird and as large as 15,000 pound machines. The biggest markets are expected to be local and state police departments.

But in this evolving cyber age, there are fears that the digital link between the operator and the drone would be hacked or broken which could endanger the public. Yet still, the interest to use drones increases--worrying even national security experts. The FAA predicts that an estimated 10,000 civilian drones will be used in the US by 2018. The administration of US president Barack Obama has already given permissions for drones to be used at some universities, police departments and other government agencies.

Colin Campbell, Press TV, Washington.