When it comes to the workings of a drone, it is usually powered by a battery pack or in some cases fuel, moreover, in order to be able to fly in various directions and to help in the maintenance of altitude, drones also contain an elaborate propulsion system consisting of propellers. The first unmanned radio-controlled aerial vehicle was developed by the British army in 1916 during WWI, advancements in technology resulted in the launch of surveillance drones in the 1980s courtesy of the US military and in the 1990s drones first began to be used for combat purposes in the military. Therefore, it is imperative that we understand how these technologies work and what they are capable of. If that isn’t enough, new surveillance technologies have the capability to attack through precision strikes. One such tool that has been employed is the use of aerial surveillance devices to monitor an adversary’s movements, command-and-control systems and civilian populations. This is one where states employ technological instruments whether it be social media, cyber-attacks, or hackings to spy on opponents, harm their facilities and garner strategic objectives. Instead of direct head-to-head confrontation between states, a new form of warfare has emerged. In the modern world as globalization and technological innovation has taken hold, it wouldn’t be wrong to say that the battlefields have changed. Thus, this technological advancement comes with its associated liabilities and risks.ĭrones, Satellites and Spy balloons: The evolution of surveillance technology Aerial Surveillance is a prime example of this theory, although using unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and satellites have contributed to endurance of law and order, establishment of security and pre-empt threats, it has also created a constant threat of abuse, violation of airspace of countries, misuse and misinterpretation of data. Similarly, another theory put forward by the German sociologist Ulrich beck is the Risk Society theory, where he introduces the idea of “manufactured risks”, in other words increasing technological advancements and modernization has resulted in societies being plagued with constant risks and perils. This has prompted a lot of debate on whether such acts of asymmetrical surveillance where (quoting Foucault), “He is seen but he does not see, he is an object of information, never a subject in communication” are violations of privacy or against norms and ethics. States are increasingly using aerial surveillance to spy on other states, particularly their strategic locations and military/government installations. However, this theory initially reserved for criminals in a state has now expanded to include interstate relations and safeguarding of national security interests as well. Just the threat of being watched will prevent individuals from committing felonies. He states that aerial surveillance and surveillance of all forms in general can be used as a tool by the state to track citizens and ensure prevention of crime and prevalence of order in the society. Now generally known as the “Panopticon principle”, Foucault argues how human beings have now moved from an era of sovereign power where control is established through the use of force to disciplinary power where control is instead established through monitoring the populations.
One such theory was put forward by the French philosopher Michel Foucault in his 1975 book titled, “Discipline and Punish”.
Over the years scholars and philosophers have attempted to explain and justify the act of surveillance. “Big brother is watching you”, to a layman this phrase would have little value, besides, a dystopian fiction novel cannot obviously turn into reality, right? But in the 21st century that is not the case, Big brother is, and will continue to watch you, whether you associate Big brother with repressive, authoritarian regimes spying over their citizens or with imperialistic hegemons spying over their enemies and allies.Īerial Surveillance: A theoretical overview
0 kommentar(er)
