Various neighborhoods utilize services like Nextdoor to provide a neighborhood communications system. In my home town, the communications I have seen have most often involved lost dogs and cats, lost wallets and keys, block party announcements, requests for recommendations for a good plumber, or for a good auto mechanic, and offers of free building supplies.
Most recently, however (something a bit different), I learned of a neighborhood-based effort to organize a drone surveillance program:
I am getting a drone to identify the encampments where they [homeless persons] are living illegally. As a status, we are $900 away from what we need. Just nine people to give $100 each would do it. That will provide a quad-copter with an infrared camera to identify and report the encampments.
I have always been a strong advocate of community-based organization, but I must admit I hadn't ever thought of this approach.
At least, as far as I know, this drone will not be "weaponized."
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=&sku=1138088&gclid=Cj0KEQjwu-CuBRCQ2byQtMep7e0BEiQABQKlkQY7e8KYCdS8V_Hde1jH5snk2KsQijcTmc9LTWpbKjcaAk1u8P8HAQ&is=REG&m=Y&A=details&Q=
Yet it is still an intrusive machine that can be easily used for invasion of privacy. I don't trust drones in the hands of neighborhood groups any more than in the hands of the military. It's the technology, not the user.
ReplyDeleteNo drones, no way.