UK study of police drones urges creation of national rules on use and data security practices

It’s no secret that UK police have been energetic and innovative adopters of drone technology in public service, law enforcement, and first responder activity, but a recent survey suggests those forces need to do a better job in assuring security of their UAVs and the data they collect.

A poll authored by the government’s Biometrics and Surveillance Camera Commissioner Fraser Sampson found that while drones have become frequent assets in UK police units, management of those craft by coppers raises “concern around data security and accountability.”

The major problems cited: procurement decisions, firmware upgrades, and management of information collected – all of which, Sampson said, frequently lack the awareness and measures required to effectively avert risks of hacking, leakage, or other kinds of piracy.

The study also voiced uneasiness about the absence of a common list of rules covering ethics and data security in drone usage…