Perception of drone related risks in Czech society

Abstract

The article examines perception of drone connected risks and the approval of the various purposes of the drone technology employment (rescue, traffic, security, private etc.) in Czech Republic and the opinion differences between drone users and non-users. Familiarity hypothesis, implying lower risk expectation and higher approval in the group of users, is tested in an online panel survey, concluding that user experience influences risk perception by broadening the scope of perceived possible events and contributes to the ability to evaluate risks. Further, five scenarios of precepted possible events are identified as espionage/spying, business rivalries, ideological attack, blackmailing, unintentional accident. The approval of individual modes of use is then found to be divided into two groups pattern - unlimited use and the use for public good. This division does not correspond with the users, non-users group.