Drone fears inspire industry's code of conduct

Pittsburgh, Jul 3: A trade group for drone aircraft manufacturers and operators is releasing the industry's first “code of conduct,” partly in response to growing privacy concerns as the industry expands into civilian aviation.





Citizens, civil liberties groups and politicians have expressed worries that the small unmanned aircraft, which can easily be outfitted with cameras, raise the specter of a “surveillance society.”

The Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International said Monday that the recommendations for “safe, non-intrusive operation” are meant to guide operators and reassure the public. The nonprofit association has members in more than 60 countries.

The recommendations pledge to “respect the privacy of individuals.”

The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration is devising new rules for unmanned aircraft.