Communications of the ACM
Connecticut Suburb Deploys 'Pandemic Drones' to Try to Enforce Social Distancing
Westport, CT, is deploying specialized police drones to yell at people who aren't standing six feet apart.
Credit: The Verge
Enforcing social distancing during the ongoing novel coronavirus pandemic is a tough thing to do, but the suburban town of Westport, Connecticut, might have found the most over-the-top solution yet: deploying specialized police drones to yell at people who aren't standing six feet apart, as spotted by Gizmodo.
In a post on Facebook announcing the new drone program, the Westport Police Department notes that the drones won't be used on resident's private yards, nor will they be using facial recognition technology. Still, it's hard not to imagine possible privacy concerns for drones that are flying around and monitoring people's physical locations.
"The goal to provide better health monitoring support for potential at-risk groups, including seniors, as well as for gathering crowds at beaches, train stations, parks and recreation areas, and shopping centers. It will not be used in individual private yards, nor does it employ facial recognition technology," the department's post reads.
From The Verge
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