The Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Systems Association (UAVSA), a trade group that represents the drone industry to the UK government, has recommended drones deployed in Britain should be shown to “benefit mankind in general” be decorated with humanitarian-related advertisements, and be painted bright colours to distance them from those used in warzones.

Also worth noting that “There remains a high level of police interest in military-style drones, which, unlike small UAVs, can fly at heights of more than 20,000ft, making them invisible from the ground.”

In trying to understand what’s creepy about this, I think one nexus is the change in meaning of public space. Once upon a time, “in public” meant transparency and sousveillance were possible - anyone who could see or hear you, you could likewise see and hear - as we would often be anonymous.

Now, however, social networks, mobile and technology like these drones push us into an age we might call the “suprapublic”, where “in public” means visibility to countless strangers, and we are watched much beyond our own capability to watch back.

Meanwhile, the private sphere has also changed: much domestic behaviour - the music you’re listening to, the TV you’re watching - is broadcast out through social media, and the home is only private in the places where it’s unplugged.

Necessarily this must change the conditions of acceptable - and possible - behaviour in these new ultrapublic spaces.