Drones, the FAA and Transport Canada’s approaches to a new unfolding technology

In his story, Logan explains the use of armed drones in warfare has raised concern for human rights groups and the UN. The US was held responsible for several civilian deaths in Pakistan’s North Wazirstan Province, which happened in July. The invasion left 18 labourers dead and Amnesty International considered these to be, “war crimes or extrajudicial executions.” Amnesty and Human Rights Watch questioned the legality of the U.S. using the technology to carry out targeted attacks in countries-Pakistan, Yemen and Somalia-where it was not fighting a war. Amnesty believes, “the sad reality is USA continues to rely on a ‘global war’doctrine in attempting to justify a borderless war with al-Qa’ida, the Taliban and those perceived to be their allies.” The UN recently expressed concern over the possibility of UAVs being used for “illegal” purposes by all states, not just the U.S.

Special Rapporteur Ben Emmerson recently said there needs to be more transparency when it comes to how drones are used. Ememrson says, “a world where multiple states use weapons in secrecy is a less secure world.” The unmanned aircraft however, also has its supporters. “All the evidence we have so far shows that drones do better at both identifying the terrorist and avoiding collateral damage than anything else we have,” Bradley J. Strawser, a former Air Force officer and a professor at the Naval Postgraduate School, told the New York Times.

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My name is Mara Paolantonio, I just graduated from York University Bachelor of Arts program, I studied Italian and Communication Studies. I wrote and edited for Excalibur Publications, York University’s paper. I also wrote for Panoram Italia, a few articles and blog as well. I hope to write about stories that relate to people’s lives (to interview them and tell their story) as well as inform citizens on important issues. I attended my first social media conference this year at York University. My political beliefs lie in the middle. I have a website, www.feminismandtechnology.weebly.com my twitter is @82Mara