Expansion of Drone-as-First-Responder Programs in the U.S.

• Hundreds of public safety agencies across the U.S. are preparing to launch drone-as-first-responder (DFR) programs, significantly expanding aerial surveillance capabilities.
• Since April 2025, the FAA has issued more DFR-related waivers than in the previous seven years combined, following a streamlined application process.
• DFR programs mark a transition from human-piloted drones to AI-based autonomous flights that operate beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS).

Growth and Regulation

• As of February 2026, over 1,000 public safety agencies hold FAA waivers for DFR operations.
• The FAA’s new process allows agencies to obtain waivers for BVLOS and operations above 200 feet, which were previously highly restricted.
• These programs increasingly utilize autonomous launchpads atop municipal buildings, allowing single operators to manage multiple drones simultaneously.

Impact on Privacy and Industry

• Companies like Axon and Flock Safety are major beneficiaries of this market growth; Flock Safety has already adapted drones to function as mobile automated license plate readers (ALPRs).
• Critics warn that the surveillance potential poses severe risks to civil liberties, as drones can capture footage of backyards and windows where people expect privacy.
• Data suggests that despite industry claims of high-risk emergency use, many deployments occur in response to low-risk calls related to mental health, unhoused people, or noise complaints.

Community Oversight

• Transparency practices, such as public portals tracking flight paths in real time, are recommended to provide accountability.
• Laws like California’s AB 481 serve as a model, requiring departments to provide advance notice and obtain public input before purchasing surveillance technology.
• Experts emphasize that communities must have the power to object to the acquisition of these systems, rather than just overseeing how they are managed once deployed.