Public Privacy Concerns of Operating Entities Use of Unmanned Aerial Systems

This study examined one-hundred and sixty five U.S. participants’ privacy levels of concerns towards eight different entities operating unmanned aerial systems (UAS). The participants were presented with an individual scenario that was interchanged with the eight operating entities. With each interchanged scenario the participants were asked to assess overall privacy concern based on the operating entity utilizing the UAS. The operating entities used in the scenario were Amazon, the Government, the Military, Law Enforcement, Consulting, Construction, Hobbyist, and Real Estate. The results demonstrate that there is a difference between operating entity and genders; however both genders trend toward the same level of concern based on the operating entity. The results and conclusions from this study can be used by Federal and State governments, as well as public and private entities for determination of regulations, policies, and uses of a UAS. Implications of these results are further discussed within the poster.