I recently learned that there's talk in the US about "letting drones fly freely beyond line of sight" 💡
Honestly, this kind of surprised me 😳
Because normally, drones had to be flown within "visible range" where you could see them with your own eyes, but now they'll be able to fly far away without any issues...
What Does "Beyond Line of Sight" Actually Mean?
Until now, drone operators had to fly drones "while keeping them in sight" 👀
But this is changing, and they'll be able to let the machines (drones) fly to distant locations on their own ✨
For example, they could fly around your backyard, near your neighbor's windows... places where people can't directly see them 🥺
Why Do They Want This?
The main reasons seem to be:
- Making delivery services more convenient 📦
- Improving efficiency in agriculture and disaster response 🚜🔥
- Reducing the hassle of various surveys and inspections 👷♀️
But while it brings convenience, it also significantly increases privacy concerns 💭
What Kind of Privacy Issues Are There?
I was thinking about this too, like...
- Someone might be watching your backyard with a drone "without you knowing who's operating it" 🥺
- There's a risk of strangers peeking into your house from a distance 👀
- It could feel like a surveillance society, making it hard to live peacefully 💦
Thinking about these things honestly makes me a little scared 😰
There Seems to Be a Chance to Voice Your Opinion!
In the US, they're accepting public comments on this new rule until October 6, 2025 📅
(Interested? Check here → https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2025/08/07/2025-14992/normalizing-unmanned-aircraft-systems-beyond-visual-line-of-sight-operations)
By speaking up, we might be able to strengthen rules for privacy protection, so if you're even slightly concerned, it might be worth participating 👍
Somehow this doesn't feel like someone else's problem anymore... that's what I wanted to share 🌸
Changes like these can sneak into our daily lives before we know it, so it might be important to stay aware 💭
Hatena
Comments
レオ
You can already do this now. Drones have a 4-mile flight range and can hover over any building in the city for about 20 minutes while filming through your smartphone.
クリス
I'm a certified Part 107 pilot in the US, but Chinese drone operators have all their flight records, location data, photos, and videos sent to the Chinese Communist Party. This is separate from the beyond visual line of sight restriction removal discussion.
グレース
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ハンナ
Ask Denmark about this. They've had military deployments and airport closures due to mysterious drones.
ベン
I'll raise my hand. How can drones see beyond line of sight? Are we talking about infrared or ultraviolet?
エイダン
Am I the only one who watched this and remembered the spider drones from 'Minority Report'?
ロバート
This isn't a privacy issue. Filming inside homes is already prohibited, and being within line of sight doesn't make it different. The point about illegal filming remains the same.
リリー
At least surveillance won't be hidden like it used to be.
ジョージ
Law enforcement and intelligence agencies are already using this. Several years ago, drone grid surveillance was tested in US cities, with thermal imaging drones capable of 3D monitoring inside buildings.
ノーラン
Good point. What's the point of seeing the drone with your eyes? If someone wants to surveil you, they don't need to be within line of sight, and how would you even catch them? This law is meaningless.
サム
Shut up. Don't mess with my hobby. I just want to build and play with RC toys, I'm not bothering anyone.
ミア
I love privacy, but I don't want my drones confiscated by the government. Don't take away my hobby.
