Drone attack... on celebs?

Celebrity tracking agencies in the United States aim to expand the use of drones to more than fighting militants.

Celebrity tracking agencies in the United States (US) aim to expand the use of drones to more than fighting militants in Pakistan – they intend to use them as paparazzi, reported the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) on Thursday.

“Gary Morgan, chief executive of (Splash News) the celebrity-photo agency, said he'd like to be buzzing his quarry soon with silent, miniature drones mounted with tiny cameras. No more harassment from helicopters hovering in the Hollywood Hills,” said the report.

In fact, drones that are currently associated with fighting against terror, can be used for multiple purposes other than chasing celebrities and “an unmanned aircraft that can fly a predetermined route costs a few hundred bucks to build and can be operated by iPhone,” said to the media report.

Although the US does not at the moment permit the domestic use of drones, “the ability to share software and hardware designs on the Internet has sped drone development, said Christopher Anderson, founder of the website DIY Drones, a clearinghouse for the nearly 12,000 drone hobbyists around the world.”

Drones can also be used in terms of disaster management and gathering other kinds of information.

However, privacy issues could emerge if such drones become common. While the military has rules of engagement governing drone use, there is no similar set of rules to protect privacy for domestic use of drones, the WSJ reported.