Shoplifters could soon be chased down by drones
technologyreview.com
Shoplifters could soon be chased down by drones
1–10 of 20 posts
Re: Shoplifters could soon be chased down by drones
#2Good way to get free drones.
Re: Shoplifters could soon be chased down by drones
#3How long until drones are permitted to take physical action on violent perps? And how long until they look like [1]?
[1] - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rEby9OkePpg [video][3:33 mins][warning: contains Tom Cruise]
Re: Shoplifters could soon be chased down by drones
#4As someone who has never shoplifted in my life, this makes me deeply uncomfortable.
If it's acceptable for a business to use drones to tail a (suspected) shoplifter, what stops a business from using them to tail a regular customer to collect marketing data?
What if I am curious where someone I work with lives, is it OK to use a drone to follow them home?
I would argue that it's obviously not OK but it seems like there is no law against this in the US unless you have a restraining order, perhaps.
Re: Shoplifters could soon be chased down by drones
#5As someone who has never shoplifted in my life, this makes me deeply uncomfortable. If it's acceptable for a business to use drones to tail a (suspected) shoplifter, what stops a business from using them to tail a regular customer to collect marketing data? What if I am curious where someone I work with lives, is it OK to use a drone to follow them home? I would argue that it's obviously not OK but it seems like ther…
Read up on the company behind this (Flock Safety). Their entire mission is to set up a surveillence state in the USA.
Re: Shoplifters could soon be chased down by drones
#6It’s still limited by the local government’s willingness to pursue and prosecute these types of crimes
Re: Shoplifters could soon be chased down by drones
#7How long until drones are permitted to take physical action on violent perps? And how long until they look like [1]? [1] - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rEby9OkePpg [video][3:33 mins][warning: contains Tom Cruise]
The police somewhere are probably already using them to spray pepper spray.
I bet if you shoot their drone it's "attempted murder of an officer" or whatever just like it is for the dogs.
Re: Shoplifters could soon be chased down by drones
#8As someone who has never shoplifted in my life, this makes me deeply uncomfortable. If it's acceptable for a business to use drones to tail a (suspected) shoplifter, what stops a business from using them to tail a regular customer to collect marketing data? What if I am curious where someone I work with lives, is it OK to use a drone to follow them home? I would argue that it's obviously not OK but it seems like ther…
At least in the short term, I think the economics will prevent stores from using this for marketing data. Operating these drones has to very, very expensive and I don't think knowing about your driving habits for a few miles is worth the cost.
The only reason these things could be economical in the short term is because theft costs retail companies an insanely high amount of money.
However, this might change if these drones become cheaper to operate and purchase.
I would think there's some crime that would prevent people from using these to the extremes. I am almost certain it's illegal to put an air tag on someone to track their whereabouts and I would also think those laws would apply here.
Re: Shoplifters could soon be chased down by drones
#9How long until drones are permitted to take physical action on violent perps? And how long until they look like [1]? [1] - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rEby9OkePpg [video][3:33 mins][warning: contains Tom Cruise]
The police somewhere are probably already using them to spray pepper spray. I bet if you shoot their drone it's "attempted murder of an officer" or whatever just like it is for the dogs.
I googled "Pepper Spray Drones" and this was the first result, peak USA:
https://dronelife.com/2025/04/01/pepper-spray-drones-in-scho...
Re: Shoplifters could soon be chased down by drones
#10In general I'm a big fan of incorporating drones and cameras into crime fighting techniques. It's safer and cheaper for the general public, law enforcement, and the criminals themselves. For example for retail thieves (the article's use case), or for car thieves and street racers, don't need to have a high speed chase anymore. Follow the car around until a trap can be set or it parks at the criminal's house.