A new poll conducted by AP-GfK shows Americans are “skeptical that the benefits of the heralded drone revolution will outweigh the risks to privacy and safety.”
However, they do favor using drones for dangerous jobs or in remote areas.
AP reports that “by a 2-1 margin, those who had an opinion opposed using drones for commercial purposes. Only 21 percent favored commercial use of drones, compared with 43 percent opposed. Another 35 percent were in the middle.”
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is about to broaden the regulations that govern small drone use. Once those go in effect, there could be dones everywhere. Congress also wants the FAA to move on the regulations, as the drone industry is expected to “create 100,000 jobs and $82 billion in economic impact in the first 10 years they’re allowed, according to the Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International, a trade group.”
Women and seniors were least supportive of the drones while white college graduates and wealthier people were most supportive.
Only 1 in 4 people support using drones to deliver small packages and 39% were opposed. There was a similar breakdown on the question of whether drones should be used to take pictures during weddings or private events. Only 23% favor the recreational use of drones.
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