Unmanned Aircraft Ethics Get Reviewed

GRAND FORKS, N.D. – As a leader in “unmanned aircraft” development, the University of North Dakota (UND) is now looking at the ethics of using unmanned aircraft. In addition to potential conflicts with manned aircraft, there are all sorts of privacy issues at stake, including the use of unmanned vehicles by local law enforcement, to spying on one’s neighbors, or inadvertently photographing something or someone. A committee of University of North Dakota researchers, law enforcement officials and residents will review how unmanned aircraft are used and consider their legal and ethical issues. Meanwhile, the Federal Aviation Administration is busy developing rules on the use of the technology, so as not to conflict with manned aircraft and airspace restrictions, which are due out by 2015.