Drones are becoming increasingly popular and consumerized. Drone popularity and drone visual capabilities change the way police force operate and how private individuals, communities, and corporations think about security. Police forces are not only using drones (and robots) for search and rescue operations, but drones are becoming first responders (DFR – Drones as First Responders). Autonomous drones are also becoming more widespread to patrol communities, neighborhoods, or corporate campuses. I am interested in how religious communities respond to law enforcement use of drones and whether they develop innovative ways to use drones themselves.

My research questions follow broadly the following themes/questions:

1. How do religious communities respond to law enforcement use of drones? What are the factors impacting religious communities’ perceptions of police drones? To what extent does the quality and nature of the relationship between law enforcement and religious communities impact how religious communities experience police drones?
2. Religious communities often use CCTV to monitor their premises and places of worship? In what ways do religious communities use drones to monitor community events? Does drone use help feel religious practitioners feel more safe?

If you would like to talk about my research, please reach out at: alexander@ornella.at