Consensus, Stakeholder-DraftedBest Practices Createdin the NTIA-ConvenedMultistakeholder Process May 18, 2016 “Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) technologycontinues to improve rapidly, and increasinglyUAS are able to perform a variety of missionswith greater operational flexibility and at a lowercost than comparable manned aircraft. … –President Barack Obama Charge from the President As compared to manned aircraft, UAS may provide lower-cost operation and augment existing capabilities whilereducing risks to human life. Estimates suggest the positive economic impact to U.S. industry of the integrationof UAS into the NAS could be substantial and likely will grow for the foreseeable future. The combination of greater operational flexibility, lower capital requirements, and lower operating costs couldallow UAS to be a transformative technology in the commercial and private sectors for fields as diverse asurban infrastructure management, farming, and disaster response. Although these opportunities will enhanceAmerican economic competitiveness, our Nation must be mindful of the potential implications for privacy,civil rights, and civil liberties. The Federal Government is committed to promoting the responsible use of thistechnology in a way that does not diminish rights and freedoms. By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, andin order to establish transparent principles that … promote the responsible use of this technology in the privateand commercial sectors, it is hereby ordered as follows: … There is hereby established a multi-stakeholder engagement process to develop and communicate bestpractices for privacy, accountability, and transparency issues regarding commercial and private UAS usein the NAS. The process will include stakeholders from the private sector. Within 90 days of the date of thismemorandum, the Department of Commerce, through the National Telecommunications and InformationAdministration, and in consultation with other interested agencies, will initiate this multi-stakeholderengagement process to develop a framework regarding privacy, accountability, and transparency forcommercial and private UAS use.” Consensus, Stakeholder-Drafted Best PracticesCreated in the NTIA-Convened Multistakeholder Process I. Introduction The benefits of commercial and private unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) are substantial. Technology hasmoved forward rapidly, and what used to be considered toys are quickly becoming powerful commercialtools that can provide enormous benefits in terms of safety and efficiency. UAS integration will havea significant positive economic impact in the United States. Whether UAS are performing search andrescue missions, allowing farmers to be more efficient and environmentally friendly, inspecting powerlines and cell towers, gathering news and enhancing the public’s access to information, performingaerial photography to sell real estate and provide insurance services, surveying and mapping areas forpublic policy, delivering medicine to rural locations, providing wireless internet, enhancing constructionsite safety, or more—society is only just beginning to realize the full potential of UAS. UAS technologyis already bringing substantial benefits to people’s daily lives, including cheaper goods, innovativeservices, safer infrastructure, recreational uses, and greater economic activity. Inevitably, creative mindswill devise many more UAS uses that will save lives, save money and make our society more productive. However, the very characteristics that make UAS so promisingfor commercial and non-commercial uses, including their smallsize, maneuverability and capacity to carry various kinds ofrecording or sensory devices, can raise privacy concerns. Asa result, individuals may be apprehensive about the adoptionof this technology into everyday life. In order to ensure thatUAS and the exciting possibilities that come with them live upto their full potential, operators should use this technology in aresponsible, ethical, and respectful way. This should include acommitment to transparency, privacy and accountability. advanceUAS privacy,transparency and accountability forthe private and commercial use of UAS.1UAS operators mayimplement these Best Practices in a variety of ways, dependingon their circumstances and technology uses, and evolvingprivacy expectations. In some cases, these Best Practices aremeant to go beyond existing law and they do not—and are notmeant to—create a legal standard of care by which the activitiesof any particular UAS operator should be judged. These BestPractices are also not intended to serve as a template for futurestatutory or regulatory obligations, in part because doing sowould make these standards mandatory (not voluntary) andcould therefore raise First Amendment concerns. The purpose of this document is to outline and describevoluntary Best Practices that UAS operators could take to II.