from the now-who-said-it-would-never-happen? dept.
A drone that fires pepper spray bullets and includes blinding lasers and on-board speakers has been sold.
South Africa-based Desert Wolf told the BBC it had secured the sale of 25 units to a mining company after showing off the tech at a trade show.
It is marketing the device as a "riot control copter" that can tackle crowds "without endangering the lives of security staff".
But the International Trade Union Confederation is horrified by the idea. "This is a deeply disturbing and repugnant development and we are convinced that any reasonable government will move quickly to stop the deployment of advanced battlefield technology on workers or indeed the public involved in legitimate protests and demonstrations," said spokesman Tim Noonan.
He added that the ITUC would now try to identify which company had ordered the drones.
(Score: 2, Insightful) by Horse With Stripes on Thursday June 19 2014, @08:13PM
How long before local law enforcement in the US starts ordering these types of units?
Any political protests are potential terrorist breeding grounds and should be immediately dispelled in order to prevent any likeminded individuals from cooperating with each other. There are Presidential political conventions in 2016 that will need some kind of cattle control and these 'non-lethal' weapons (unless it falls on you) are the perfect solution. /sarcasm
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday June 19 2014, @08:41PM
How long before someone loads the shells with something besides pepper spray?
(Score: 4, Informative) by lhsi on Thursday June 19 2014, @09:54PM
Probably not very. From the article:
(Score: 2) by Reziac on Friday June 20 2014, @02:35AM
I can understand using such an armed drone if you're, say, a mining operation in an area where bandit attacks can be a real issue, like some parts of Africa. It might be the best way to protect your workers and your assets.
But for the rest of us... y'all got your drone hunting permit? All right, let's go get 'em!
And there is no Alkibiades to come back and save us from ourselves.
(Score: 3, Interesting) by dry on Friday June 20 2014, @05:08AM
More likely for use on the pesky workers if they start demanding better working conditions or getting paid in cash instead of script spendable at the company store.
(Score: 2) by Reziac on Friday June 20 2014, @05:20AM
Considering that folks work in such places because it's a better living than subsistence farming... I kinda doubt it. They don't need eyes overhead for workers on the ground, they have armed guards for that. But what's out in the bush... different story. You go looking for bandits, chances are they get you instead. Wait for 'em to attack and it's too late. Best to spot 'em from above and discourage 'em on the spot.
And there is no Alkibiades to come back and save us from ourselves.
(Score: 2) by davester666 on Friday June 20 2014, @06:00AM
Do you accept negative numbers? I'm sure they have already been ordered by some offices already, and with more publicity, more will order them.
They are great, easy denial of ownership and control of the unit. It's fun without consequences.
(Score: 1) by Horse With Stripes on Friday June 20 2014, @10:56AM
Do I accept negative numbers? I hadn't thought of it, but you're probably right. Any sales to US law enforcement agencies are probably covered by an NDA of some sort.
(Score: 4, Funny) by Bot on Thursday June 19 2014, @08:14PM
I would be mildly scared about this development if I were a rioter.
I would be TERRIBLY scared about this development if I were a policeman.
At least, rioters can buy a sign-carrying, pepper-spray resistant, radio-guided protester drone.
Account abandoned.
(Score: 3, Interesting) by kaszz on Friday June 20 2014, @01:02AM
Servos + Gun + Detection device = Drone free zone anywhere.
Air defense is old. Drone will not be exempted. Oh don't forget that pesky radio link as in weak link.
(Score: 2) by AnythingGoes on Friday June 20 2014, @01:22AM
Anybody want to take a bet? :)
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday June 19 2014, @08:30PM
I thought the people were trained by now to put their minority opinions on twitter and facebook, where opinions can be safely ignored and have no significant consequence. The powerful stay in power, the malcontents are deluded into thinking someone is listening to them, everybody wins!
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday June 19 2014, @09:31PM
but logged
(Score: 3, Interesting) by TheLink on Friday June 20 2014, @03:39AM
If what you say is true why do many regimes clamp down on social media?
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Censorship_of_Facebook [wikipedia.org]
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Censorship_of_Twitter [wikipedia.org]
Do not underestimate the power of communication and convincing other people to your side.
In the USA voters can actually vote differently if they wanted to. Go ask them, nobody is forcing most of them to vote a certain way.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Friday June 20 2014, @04:01AM
While you can, it is far better to change your government using votes, and convince the voters by education and communication. Social media can be used to spread your message, but do it wrong and you just get "echo chambers" of likeminded people.
(Score: 2) by Yog-Yogguth on Tuesday July 08 2014, @10:54AM
AC wrote:
Tried modding you up as insightful but since it's late and I was the only one it didn't catch, thus I'm quoting you instead/as well for increased visibility. Some would disagree with the points you make (and some of that might be right as well) but I think you're making important arguments that one should be aware of.
I would argue that it would be even better to change government stances and actions due to inescapable facts rather than votes; if one can actually make the problem their own direct personal problem and hopefully even publicly exposed (it doesn't have to be anything bad or illegal, just factual) then something is more likely to get done or at least attempted.
To be sly with kindness if one can.
Bite harder Ouroboros, bite! tails.boum.org/ linux USB CD secure desktop IRC *crypt tor (not endorsements (XKeyScore))
(Score: 3, Insightful) by AnonTechie on Thursday June 19 2014, @09:02PM
What can possibly go wrong with such drones ?? Will the authorities ever learn ??
Albert Einstein - "Only two things are infinite, the universe and human stupidity, and I'm not sure about the former."