The Civilian Impact of Drone Strikes: Unexamined Costs, Unanswered Questions | Columbia Law School

Human Rights Institute

The Civilian Impact of Drone Strikes:

Unexamined Costs, Unanswered Questions

Drones are touted as the most precise and humane weapons platform in the history of warfare. The technological advance is significant, but covert drone strikes carry costs for civilians and local communities. This report is the first systematic study of the US government’s covert drone program and its objective was to critically assess US government procedures and standards for ensuring civilian protection and responding to civilian harm from drone strikes conducted both outside of full-scale military operations and with a degree of secrecy. The study is based on a review of publicly available materials, interviews with current and former government officials, responses to requests for information from agencies, and previous field interviews by Center for Civilians in Conflict.