Photo by Scott Webb on Pexels
A potential shift in Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) regulations is fueling a national conversation about the balance between technological advancement and individual privacy. The proposed rule change would relax the current requirement for drone operators to maintain visual line of sight, potentially opening the door for broader drone deployment across industries such as package delivery, agriculture, and law enforcement. While industry stakeholders celebrate the potential for increased efficiency and innovation, privacy advocates warn of the heightened risk of widespread surveillance without appropriate safeguards. The FAA is currently soliciting public feedback on the proposal, with a deadline of October 6. The issue was originally highlighted in MIT Technology Review’s AI-focused newsletter, The Algorithm.