The UK government is considering plans to deploy unmanned aerial vehicles, also known as drones, on the British skies by 2020, new reports say.
The move is part of a plan introduced by the British police to spy on the public more efficiently and more effectively in a country where its people are already the most spied upon in the world, British media reported.
Drones have already been used in such countries as Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Somalia, and Yemen where the US government and its allies decided to intervene militarily.
Now, the drone technology is being studied upon by the police to be deployed on the British skies by 2020.
The drone spyware enjoys the capability to put every corner of the citizens’ lives under surveillance, with a potentially serious violation of their civil rights and right to privacy.
The government had initially planned to use drones during Olympic Games but it was not proved to be cost-effective for widespread use.
The remote-controlled system dubbed “spy in the sky” has already been tried by some forces in the UK, but it has been cancelled after a £13,000 drone was lost in the River Mersey following a successful launch.
Britain has allocated £31 million to examine how drones can share flight paths with commercial jets. A further £20 million of taxpayers' money has been granted to develop the biggest drone test site in Europe.
“I think we missed an opportunity with the Olympics. But there is an opportunity to do things differently. Until we start to ask the questions, we will always think the same way”, said Superintendent Richard Watson at a presentation to the defence industry.
He added, “I see unmanned systems as part of the future. There is an aircraft over London all the time - every day, giving images back. Why does it need to be a very expensive helicopter?”
Watson also said that the police would have to ensure that drones were cost effective in order to convince the public of their use against fears of a “Big Brother” state. Source
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