California police expand drone use amid privacy concerns

Law enforcement agencies in California are expanding the use of drone technology amid ongoing debates regarding privacy and surveillance. In Costa Mesa, the police department has proposed a $300,000 agreement with Axon Enterprise, Inc. to acquire a Skydio X-10 drone and docking stations. This expansion, funded by a state organized retail theft grant, aims to supplement an existing drone program and support a new Real-Time Information Center.

While officials state that drones are used responsively to calls for service rather than for routine patrols or immigration enforcement, critics question the transparency of drone programs. Analysis of Flock drone dashboards, such as the one used by the Alameda County Sheriff's Office, suggests that public data often focuses on metrics like response times and subjects located. These dashboards may fail to address critical community concerns, including how flight decisions are made, who is disproportionately affected, data-sharing protocols, and the total cost of operations.