Drones Threaten People, Privacy and Property
Drone use is well regulated in high-risk scenarios – including the airspace surrounding government, defence and airport facilities – but there remain substantial grey areas in civilian use of popular consumer grade unmanned aerial systems (UAS). Governments have debated it for many years.
This is not only a problem for civilians, but also poses incredible risk for government officials, celebrities, business executives and foreign dignitaries, to name a few.
With drones becoming more advanced and sales consistently on the rise, it doesn’t take much for someone to purchase a device from their local retailer and use it to spy on people—for example, their neighbours, private property and open-air events. Some instances may be the result of negligence, but cause discomfort, disruption and safety risks regardless.
The problem becomes more sinister for VIPs. Shortly after the helicopter crash that killed NBA and LA Lakers star Kobe Bryant and eight other passengers, several drones were spotted at the site until the FAA was able to close the airspace to preserve the integrity of the scene and out of respect for the families of those who died.
Public figures – government officials, foreign dignitaries, business executives and celebrities – are at particular risk from UAS threats given the nature of their professions.
It wasn’t long ago that a drone was sighted hovering nearby Air Force One, with reports the UAS came dangerously close to colliding with the descending jet. The incident represents a significant security breach—had the drone been in the hands of nefarious actors or terrorists, a crisis could have ensued.
As efforts to control drone flights continue, protection against UAS is essential for maintaining privacy and protecting people, even in the absence of a direct threat. But manpower alone isn’t enough, and gunning down rogue devices creates panic and risks collateral damage.
Protecting personnel: a C-UAS perspective
In the case of high-profile personnel, counter-UAS (C-UAS) is both an active deterrent and defeat mechanism.
During the inauguration of Brazilian president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, four drones were taken down by police with a DroneGun as they moved towards the head of state. There was a similar scene in 2021 during a meeting between King Philippe of Belgium and US President Joe Biden – the streets of Brussels featured police armed with DroneGun’s radio frequency (RF) jamming capabilities.
DroneShield is purpose-built to enable this level of protection for VIPs by incorporating sensors that monitor airspace and ground parameters, detecting and neutralising UAS threats by grounding drones or returning them to their pilots. All of this is done through smart RF jamming – a ‘soft kill’ tactic void of bullets or lasers which can cause harm to third parties and objects in the vicinity.
Advanced alerts delivered via SMS and email ensure those wishing to operate with the element of surprise, such as paparazzi, are also thwarted before they get close. Alerts can be sent to designated protection teams to integrate seamlessly with existing defence systems.
DroneShield C-UAS technology can also record and securely save digital evidence of drone activity for future legal proceedings, ensuring that perpetrators can be neutralised immediately and then face suitable justice at a later date.
Click here to learn more about executive protection with DroneShield.