IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) – A report from the Iowa Department of Public Safety says lawmakers should take a wait-and-see approach toward regulating unmanned aerial vehicles because of their huge potential to help business and government. The report, requested by lawmakers in May, says a consensus has developed that drones will greatly benefit agriculture and other industries, police work and government services.
Many lawmakers are also concerned about their privacy implications. The American Civil Liberties Union of Iowa is proposing legislation banning the use of weaponized drones, requiring oversight of how police agencies acquire the technology, and directing agencies to delete surveillance information that isn’t necessary for an investigation.
The report cautions against broad regulation, saying problems could be narrowly addressed later when lawmakers “have the full picture” as to the benefits that drones produce.