They’re a double‑edged sword. If the drones can’t prove their own integrity and keep the data they collect locked, you’re just opening a door for attackers. Secure the firmware, use end‑to‑end encryption, harden the communication channel, and audit every decision they make. And don’t forget the people behind the data—if the city logs every location they record, that’s a privacy nightmare. Balance means designing the system so privacy is baked in, not an afterthought, while still letting the drones respond fast enough to save lives.