Human Impact on the use of Drones

Questions: 1. What is the human impact on the use of drones?2. Do individual rights and the common good conflict? Answers: 1. Drones or unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) are pilotless aircrafts that are either controlled using a remote control by a human operator or by onboard computers. Though now mostly operated for military purposes, they are also used for civil, commercial, scientific, research and recreational purposes. The ethical dilemmas associated with the use of this technology are on a rise because of the more widespread use of it these days. There are various concerns related with the use of drones which is being discussed. Security: When used for military and police surveillances, it is more penetrable and gives a clear picture of the various threats for which surveillance is being carried out. The loss of life that is caused while undertaking this activity can be minimized. Dangerous areas can be surveyed with minimum exposure and minimum damage to life and property. But, if the technology is obtained by terrorists and other anti-social elements, this very aspect will be the most affected. They can make use of the system to know the movements and plans of the law enforcers and plan accordingly. Another important concern is that, it makes use of computers and information technology that can be hacked and misused by the miscreants (Carvin, 2015). Privacy: The mostly voiced concern associated with the use of drones is the violation of the right to privacy. When not properly regulated and when the users are not held accountable UAVs can be used to spy into the normal lives of people for purposes like gaining access to rival companies plans and data, lives of spouses, lovers etc. and simply random snooping. This action can disrupt the peaceful and smooth lives of people and affect their basic rights (Kennedy and Rogers, 2015). Otherwise inaccessible areas are made accessible using this technology. This ranges from vast natural world to the man-made wonders. Many wonders of nature can be captured without jeopardizing the lives of people and complete picture of hazards can be got with the help of these electronic bees. For the various news agencies and investigative journalists this is a boon. Drone technology is now being widely used in journalism by many media giants like bbc and also is taught as course for budding journalists (Whetham, 2015). This technology is real and very much there. The governments around the world should devise methods to prevent its misuse. They should make laws and regulation for ensuring fair and judicious use of drones is it for any purpose and by any people. Care should be taken for preventing the technology being acquired by wrong people. Since this is a technology that has the potential to be harmful for the normal lives of the people, the sale and purchase of drones should be properly monitored. The users should always keep the rights of other people in mind while putting to use such sensitive technologies. 2. All those rights that are available to an individual without interference from government or other individuals and are necessary for the individual to lead a free and fulfilled life can be termed as individual rights. Common good is referred to all that is shared and beneficial to almost all members of a society. Individual rights and common good are meant to work in tandem with each other (SUTROP, 2011). But there are circumstances when this does not happen and conflict between the two occurs. Such incidents occur mostly when individual rights are exercised selfishly by a few people in the society without taking into account the harms that their action can bring. A few examples of such instances are being explored below: Every individual in a free society should have the right to express freely. But when this right is misused and is made use of to instigate violence in the name of community, race, sex, religion etc. by few, it disturbs the lives of masses and creates chaos and destructions. Freedom of press is enjoyed by organizations when being used by them to insult and embarrass their rivals (political, religious etc.) creating hurt for large groups of people is another instance of the individual freedom being misused and thus working against common good. In any secular country, people have the right to follow any religion they please. However, when a few people choose religion as a means to instigate violence and create troubles for the society as a whole, the concept of common good gets in conflict with individual rights (SCU, 2016). Undemocratic countries and places without rights are a proof for the importance of individual rights and the problems one can face in the absence of these. But when these rights which are meant to work in close relation with common good happens otherwise, it creates a threat to the entire society. Thus, the governments worldwide have to bring in controls and curtail these rights in just and fair manner to ensure that they dont interfere with the collective rights of the society. Even democratic governments which place a lot of importance for the individual rights practice this kind of restraints on the rights to ensure a smooth flow of life to the entire citizens. Every individual should keep in mind that their freedom ends where the freedom of others begin. And then they would make it a point not to interfere with the common good and then the spirit of both will be maintained. It should also be remembered that rights and common good is subjective and depends on the perspective from which the analysis is made. Conclusion Justice and fairness in all the actions undertaken would ensure that the world is a better place to live for all the present generation and future generations to come. Thus, every people making use of the modern technologies and amenities as well as exercising the rights should take care not to interfere with others rights and freedoms and also the common good of the society. References Carvin, S. (2015). Getting drones wrong. The International Journal Of Human Rights, 19(2), 127-141. https://dx.doi.org/10.1080/13642987.2014.991212 Kennedy, C. Rogers, J. (2015). Virtuous drones?. The International Journal Of Human Rights, 19(2), 211-227. https://dx.doi.org/10.1080/13642987.2014.991217 SUTROP, M. (2011). Changing Ethical Frameworks: From Individual Rights to the Common Good?. Cambridge Quarterly Of Healthcare Ethics, 20(04), 533-545. https://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0963180111000272 Whetham, D. (2015). Drones to protect. The International Journal Of Human Rights, 19(2), 199-210. https://dx.doi.org/10.1080/13642987.2014.991215 SCU. (2016). Justice and Fairness - Ethical Decision Making - Ethics Resources - Markkula Center for Applied Ethics - Santa Clara University. Scu.edu. Retrieved 26 May 2016, from https://www.scu.edu/ethics/ethics-resources/ethical-decision-making/justice-and-fairness/