News 2016: School of Law professor to discuss commercial, recreational, and privacy challenges of drones

Professor Hillary Farber to offer insight on recent cases and controversies involving drones

Recreational and commercial drones are proliferating in society and countless concerns have arisen in the past year stemming from the use of these powerful aerial unmanned observers. UMass Law Professor Hillary Farber will explore the pressing issues posed by the presence of drones this Tuesday, April 12, at 4 p.m., at UMass Dartmouth’s Claire T. Carney Stoico/FirstFed Charitable Foundation Grand Reading Room.

The proliferation of this emerging technology spans across many different disciplines such as computer science, engineering, robotics, law, journalism, criminology, and public policy - just to name a few. The ARNIE TALK titledCommerce, Recreation, and Privacy: The challenge of unmanned aircraft for U.S. law and policy will provide an overview of recent cases and controversies involving operators from a socio-legal perspective.

Professor Farber has presented at national and international forums on the constitutional issues regarding domestic use of drones and privacy. Last December, she wrote an op-ed in The Providence Journal on recent FAA registration requirements after attending a steering committee meeting for state lawmakers organized through a National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) partnership project on unmanned aircraft systems (UAS).Professor Farber has taught at UMass Law since June 2011 in the areas of criminal law, criminal procedure, evidence, and legal ethics.

ARNIE (Art. Research. Nexus. Innovation. Education) Talks, modeled after the TED Talks, open to the entire University community, present short, thought provoking and engaging talks across the colleges at UMass Dartmouth. ARNIE Talks provide graduate students and faculty the opportunity to discuss research and programs, while honoring excellent scholarship on campus and fostering community and culture at the university.