TSA addresses privacy questions before airport drone deployment

The US Transportation Security Administration (TSA) is preparing to begin drone inspections of airports and other transport hubs to assess the security of those facilities, but before doing so has moved to address any public concerns that images or other identifying data will be collected of people who happen to be around areas under surveillance.

The Privacy Impact Assessement for TSA Unmanned Aircraft Systems document released late last month spells out in detail how the agency plans to use drones around airports and various other transport terminals. It also takes pains to note that deployment will not involve the identification of individuals – except in exceptional and troubling circumstances.

TSA has already been active testing tech at airports in Miami, Los Angeles, and elsewhere around the US, though up until now that’s been confined to illegal UAV detection, identification, and mitigation, not operating craft of its own.

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