Slashdot Mirror


Drones Being Used By Peeping Toms, The Military, And Terrorists (newsweek.com)

An anonymous reader writes: A 19-year-old woman called Massachusetts police about a drone peeking through her second-story window at 3 a.m. -- and was told no laws had been violated. Kansas is now passing an anti-harassment law after a woman reported her neighbor's drone was hovering over their pool and outside the window where her 16-year-old daughter was washing dishes. But meanwhile, the U.S. Navy has just outfitted one supercarrier with a new drone control room, while one Dutch activist writes in Newsweek that terrorist drone attacks "are not a matter of 'If' but 'When'." Noting that drones are cheap, portable and useful, PAX's Wim Zwijnenburg warns that "Terrorists and armed militia groups are already using consumer drones in conflict situations" -- for example, in Iraq, Syria, Gaza, and the Ukraine -- "and it is likely only a matter of time before they use them to carry out attacks in Europe or the U.S."

He believes ISIS is developing its own drone fleet, and warns about the possibility of swarms with "dozens of drones equipped with explosives or chemicals". Zwijnenburg proposes background checks and registrations for certain types of drones, as well as counter-drone technology to protect airports, crowded stadiums, and critical infrastructure points. Citing the blurring lines between military and civilian drones, he writes that "there needs to be an urgent and frank discussion among industry, the military, law enforcement, and most of all, the public, as to where we go from here."

Meanwhile, another prison just reported a drone had flown over their wall -- this time a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle Heli Ball.

3 of 101 comments (clear)

  1. Might I suggest by ChodaBoyUSA · · Score: 3, Interesting

    A garden hose defense system?

    1. Re:Might I suggest by Antique+Geekmeister · · Score: 5, Interesting

      Or the "Pocket Fisherman" line of small fishing rods.

                  http://www.amazon.com/Pocket-F...

      Suitable for downing drones at surprising ranges, with far more range than a garden hose and much more safely than a firearm.

                  https://www.youtube.com/watch?...

    2. Re:Might I suggest by __aaclcg7560 · · Score: 4, Interesting

      A paintball gun with bright color paint balls would work better. If the drone survives the initial impact, the operator will have a difficult time getting the paint off.