- Over 1,000 public safety agencies received FAA waivers for drone-as-first-responder (DFR) programs by February 2026, following a streamlined process in April 2025 that led to a massive increase in waivers issued.
- New waivers allow Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) operations, enabling AI-automated drone flights from citywide launchpads, reducing the need for human-operated line-of-sight flight.
- DFR programs are marketed for situational awareness in high-risk incidents but are often deployed for low-risk calls like mental health concerns or noise complaints, as seen in Chula Vista.
- Companies like Flock Safety and Axon profit from DFR programs, with drones capable of functioning as flying automated license plate readers (ALPRs), raising privacy concerns.
- Privacy risks include surreptitious surveillance of backyards, roofs, and windows, exemplified by a leaked San Francisco Police Department drone video; community input and transparency (e.g., AB 481 in California) are critical for protecting privacy.