Armed Drones and Ethical Policing: Risk, Perception, and the Tele-Present Officer

Criminal Justice Ethics 40 (2):124-144 (2021)
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Abstract

Ethical analysis of armed drones has to date focused heavily on their use in foreign wars or counterterrorism operations, but it is important also to consider the potential use of armed drones in domestic law enforcement. Governments around the world are already making drones available to police for purposes including border control, criminal investigation, rescue missions, traffic management, and the monitoring of public assemblies. Unarmed and controlled remotely, these camera-equipped aircraft provide a powerful and mobile surveillance capacity that can be highly effective in detecting suspicious activity and guiding police operations. In addition, for situations where criminal violence presents a danger to public safety, some governments appear to be readying their police to neutralize threats using drones that are also equipped with weapons. In anticipation of that potential development, this article discusses whether or how police should use armed drones. It applies some of the established ethical principles on police use of force (necessity, proportionality, and precaution), and it explores some of the challenges a drone-using, “tele-present” police officer is likely to face in seeking to adhere to those principles.

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Citations of this work

Autonomous Force Beyond Armed Conflict.Alexander Blanchard - 2023 - Minds and Machines 33 (1):251-260.

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Null. Null - 2016 - Philosophy Study 6 (9).

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