The Phenomenology of Surveillance

Drones' intimate connection to surveillance intensifies existential anxiety, as explored in the works of Heidegger and Virilio. From Heidegger's perspective, surveillance drones trigger anxiety by making people acutely conscious of their visibility and vulnerability. This is evident in Ukraine, where drones monitor both military personnel and civilians, creating an omnipresent sense of being observed and potentially targeted, whilst transforming familiar environments into spaces of fear. Similarly, in the United States, the presence of both military and civilian drones raises unsettling questions about observation and intent. Virilio's analysis suggests that the growth of surveillance capabilities represents an impending "accident". Drones exemplify this by making constant surveillance commonplace, undermining privacy and personal freedom, and forcing people to live as if perpetually watched. Moreover, they heighten international tensions, as drone sightings could be interpreted as acts of espionage or precursors to hostile action, amplifying concerns about foreign threats.