Life of Drone Visuals: Norms, Ethics, and Effects

This chapter examines the trajectory of drone visuals, navigating through their platforms, applications, and societal impact. Engaging with digital media and internet studies, it explores the contexts in which drone visuals manifest and the issues arising from their widespread distribution and use. As drone regulations are dynamically evolving, the discussion extends to contemporary concerns such as privacy, surveillance, and ethical practices (Foucault& Sheridan, Discipline and punish: The birth of the prison. Penguin Books, 1977; Finn & Wright, Computer Law & Security Review, 32(4), 577–586, 2016; Lyon, Surveillance as social sorting: Privacy, risk, and digital discrimination. Routledge, 2003). Moreover, the chapter places a spotlight on the insights of drone developers, who are instrumental in shaping current and future research directions. This includes the application of drones equipped with advanced functionalities like thermal imaging and data sensors. The chapter paves the way for a deeper understanding of how drone visuals compare and connect with the broader spectrum of visual content that audiences encounter across different media channels. This analysis helps contextualise drones’ dualistic nature as tools of visionary capability and instruments of power, fostering a comprehensive understanding of their role and ramifications in contemporary society (Kaplan, C., Aerial aftermaths: Wartime from above. Duke University Press, 2018; Graae, A. I., & Maurer, K. Drone imaginaries: The power of remote vision. Manchester University Press, 2021; Richardson, Continuum, 34(6), 858–869, 2020).