Danish authorities suspect a professional actor is behind systematic drone flyovers at multiple airports, including Aalborg and Copenhagen, aiming to sow fear and division, with no public danger reported and efforts underway to develop legislation to neutralize such threats.
Home insurance companies are increasingly using aerial footage from drones, planes, and high-altitude balloons to assess properties, with the industry-funded Geospatial Insurance Consortium having aerial footage of 99% of US properties. Consumers are reporting being dropped by insurers based on this aerial imagery, with examples of homeowners being denied the opportunity to mitigate alleged hazards in their yards and outdated photos being used as reasons for nonrenewal. Insurers argue that customers agree to allow them to inspect their properties, including from the sky, but consumer groups are raising concerns about the lack of transparency and the potential for unfair decisions.
Ukrainian forces defending the embattled city of Bakhmut against Russian troops are utilizing a mix of 19th and 20th century weapons such as artillery and mortars with 21st century consumer tech including drones, messaging apps, teleconferencing services, satellite internet terminals, and cloud-synced mapping software. The 18 pilots who make up the battalion’s air reconnaissance team use quadcopter drones made by the Chinese company DJI, including models available for under $1,500 at Walmart or Amazon. The pilots also assist other units navigate the city and evacuate the injured.