Remotely operated camera traps and drones used in wildlife monitoring are being misused to intimidate women in northern India, where forest rangers fly drones over them without consent while they gather natural resources. This study by Cambridge researchers highlights the unintended negative impact of surveillance technologies on the mental health and safety of local women. Deliberate human monitoring and intimidation is evident, as women are feeling inhibited and watched in areas where they previously felt safe. The research calls for conservationists to consider social implications and less invasive methods for monitoring wildlife, as technology can easily be used to invade privacy and alter behavior.
https://www.cam.ac.uk/research/news/wildlife-monitoring-technologies-used-to-intimidate-and-spy-on-women-study-finds