Networking Drone Data
April 13, 2013 1 Comment
I noticed with some puzzlement Eric Schmidt, Head of Google, calling for civilian drone technology to be regulated, warning about privacy and security concerns.
Like most cynacists I then got to thinking how could such new technology harm the established data magnets.
My first thought was that if drones could share land and road data, with local enthusiasts being able to pin-point accident blackspots long before established providers could. The potential for this type of super up to date data could harm companies such as Google who provide a more traditional mapping function. Not to mention that using drones could produce a much more up to date Street View function.
I then saw a riveting article regarding the possibility the file-sharing drones and an announcement from Pirate Bay that in future parts of its site could be hosted on GPS controlled drones. In this way, they could provide a completely unrestricted “airborne Pirate Bay”.
I wondered if other people viewed drone technology as divisive or ultimately a technology for improved change.
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Interesting points. I also had a bit of a ‘huh?!’ moment when I saw Eric Schmidt’s comments. Of all the organisations out there, I’d have thought that with their processing of all of our search data, their capture of WiFi and other data from StreetView vehicles and the development of Google Glass which allows the wearer to instantly upload video to social networking sites, Google would be the last to protest over data privacy!