<![CDATA[A startup is putting military-style drones in high school ceilings.]]>A startup is putting military-style drones in high school ceilings. Ceiling-mounted. Charging. Waiting. And when something happens, a pilot in Austin, Texas, decides whether to deploy pepper gel on your kid's school. I'm not saying the problem isn't real. It absolutely is. But read that back.... in schools. We've taken a Ukrainian battlefield tactic against Russian soldiers and ported it to Deltona High School in Florida. The co-founder literally said the idea came from watching drone videos of the war in Ukraine. The chief pilot described it as "cheating in a video game after you die." These are children.

Here's what's not in the headline:

🔒 The drones use an encrypted connection — but the article notes they're potentially vulnerable to cyberattack. A compromised drone in a crowded hallway isn't a security tool; it's a weapon pointed in the wrong direction.

⚖️ Mithril reserves the right to act independently during an attack, without waiting for law enforcement. A private company operating remotely is making use-of-force decisions at a school.

đź’° Florida and Georgia approved $500K+ each for this. A group of Texas parents raised $200K more. That's real money going to ceiling drones instead of mental health services, counselors, or de-escalation programs.

The ACLU said it plainly: when force becomes a zero-risk remote action, it gets overused. Axon tried a Taser drone for schools in 2022, and its own ethics board killed it. Mithril is picking up where that got dropped.

I teach cybersecurity. I've spent years in boardrooms helping organizations think through risk. And the risk calculus here isn't just about whether the drone works. It's about what we're normalizing when we turn schools into drone-monitored combat zones and call it progress.

"This is the future," said the sheriff's captain.

I hope not.

https://www.wsj.com/business/a-startup-is-supplying-drones-to-high-schools-a7800ade

]]>https://board.circlewithadot.net/topic/d1b7ef90-642f-4f59-b93b-b0118a0fc118/a-startup-is-putting-military-style-drones-in-high-school-ceilings.RSS for NodeWed, 15 Apr 2026 08:31:20 GMTMon, 13 Apr 2026 10:58:25 GMT60<![CDATA[Reply to A startup is putting military-style drones in high school ceilings. on Mon, 13 Apr 2026 22:49:33 GMT]]>@brian_greenberg I'm sure their business strategy has been written in the black tongue of Mordor...

]]>https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://mstdn.social/users/RandamuMaki/statuses/116399837901977749https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://mstdn.social/users/RandamuMaki/statuses/116399837901977749Mon, 13 Apr 2026 22:49:33 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to A startup is putting military-style drones in high school ceilings. on Mon, 13 Apr 2026 22:37:35 GMT]]>@brian_greenberg Would be interesting to see the amount being spent on crowd control vs actual education.
Just wait till these things expire, batteries die, degrade after sitting 3 months in the summer heat etc.
Oh the maintenance contract! Including the legal costs for this, including the parental waivers signed each year to consent to have your child potentially be exposed to the effects of this system.

]]>https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://mastodon.social/users/bouriquet/statuses/116399790820398240https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://mastodon.social/users/bouriquet/statuses/116399790820398240Mon, 13 Apr 2026 22:37:35 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to A startup is putting military-style drones in high school ceilings. on Mon, 13 Apr 2026 22:33:20 GMT]]>@InkySchwartz @blogdiva @brian_greenberg Kinda, it's a metal.

]]>https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://social.finkhaeuser.de/users/jens/statuses/116399774155636340https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://social.finkhaeuser.de/users/jens/statuses/116399774155636340Mon, 13 Apr 2026 22:33:20 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to A startup is putting military-style drones in high school ceilings. on Mon, 13 Apr 2026 22:33:14 GMT]]>@brian_greenberg What could go wrong here?

]]>https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://mastodon.social/users/bouriquet/statuses/116399773722174136https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://mastodon.social/users/bouriquet/statuses/116399773722174136Mon, 13 Apr 2026 22:33:14 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to A startup is putting military-style drones in high school ceilings. on Mon, 13 Apr 2026 22:30:41 GMT]]>@InkomTech @brian_greenberg if it's in Compton, the kids will need the zip guns to fight backs against school security with their AR-15s.

]]>https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://hear-me.social/ap/users/115696907373093865/statuses/116399763686273263https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://hear-me.social/ap/users/115696907373093865/statuses/116399763686273263Mon, 13 Apr 2026 22:30:41 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to A startup is putting military-style drones in high school ceilings. on Mon, 13 Apr 2026 22:25:56 GMT]]>@Netraven @brian_greenberg shit…

Kid5: “we 3d printed a zipgun /arduino-based flyer that uses drone parts. And here’s the faraday cage for stealing them.”

]]>https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://infosec.exchange/users/InkomTech/statuses/116399745029540854https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://infosec.exchange/users/InkomTech/statuses/116399745029540854Mon, 13 Apr 2026 22:25:56 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to A startup is putting military-style drones in high school ceilings. on Mon, 13 Apr 2026 22:24:18 GMT]]>@InkomTech @brian_greenberg I'm thinking of the new high school hazing of slipping an item onto a person which has a dark body thermal profile like that of a weapon and have it false alarm on unsuspecting people.

]]>https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://hear-me.social/ap/users/115696907373093865/statuses/116399738644643099https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://hear-me.social/ap/users/115696907373093865/statuses/116399738644643099Mon, 13 Apr 2026 22:24:18 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to A startup is putting military-style drones in high school ceilings. on Mon, 13 Apr 2026 22:22:40 GMT]]>@Netraven @brian_greenberg
Sheriff: “but it’s encrypted; kids can’t take control”
Kid1: “imma crack open the gas cartridge”
Kid2: “how well do they fly with paint on the lens and clipped props/wires?”
Kid3: “let’s open one outside of principal’s home A/C unit.”
Kid4: “any cool parts we can sell for beer money?”

… meanwhile, 99% of drones sit unused, eventually the batts decay. At best, it still becomes a hazmat disposal cost.

]]>https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://infosec.exchange/users/InkomTech/statuses/116399732219866569https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://infosec.exchange/users/InkomTech/statuses/116399732219866569Mon, 13 Apr 2026 22:22:40 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to A startup is putting military-style drones in high school ceilings. on Mon, 13 Apr 2026 22:16:18 GMT]]>@brian_greenberg the link doesn't work

]]>https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://sakurajima.moe/users/waitworry/statuses/116399707149914261https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://sakurajima.moe/users/waitworry/statuses/116399707149914261Mon, 13 Apr 2026 22:16:18 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to A startup is putting military-style drones in high school ceilings. on Mon, 13 Apr 2026 22:15:17 GMT]]>@cmdrmoto @brian_greenberg I'm trying not to

Sorry đź«‚

]]>https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://mstdn.social/users/staringatclouds/statuses/116399703181884110https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://mstdn.social/users/staringatclouds/statuses/116399703181884110Mon, 13 Apr 2026 22:15:17 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to A startup is putting military-style drones in high school ceilings. on Mon, 13 Apr 2026 22:14:56 GMT]]>@blogdiva @brian_greenberg Yeah the Elven light and superstrong armor.

]]>https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://mastodon.social/users/InkySchwartz/statuses/116399701812361073https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://mastodon.social/users/InkySchwartz/statuses/116399701812361073Mon, 13 Apr 2026 22:14:56 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to A startup is putting military-style drones in high school ceilings. on Mon, 13 Apr 2026 22:09:13 GMT]]>@nilrori @brian_greenberg these are meant to stop school shootings the same way the Fourth Crusade was meant to protect Christendom.

]]>https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://mastodon.social/users/dresstokilt/statuses/116399679279303357https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://mastodon.social/users/dresstokilt/statuses/116399679279303357Mon, 13 Apr 2026 22:09:13 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to A startup is putting military-style drones in high school ceilings. on Mon, 13 Apr 2026 22:08:38 GMT]]>@staringatclouds @brian_greenberg shutupshutupshutupshutup

MOTHERFUCKER.

Please.

Don’t even think it.

]]>https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://hachyderm.io/users/cmdrmoto/statuses/116399676986017012https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://hachyderm.io/users/cmdrmoto/statuses/116399676986017012Mon, 13 Apr 2026 22:08:38 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to A startup is putting military-style drones in high school ceilings. on Mon, 13 Apr 2026 22:07:10 GMT]]>@cmdrmoto @brian_greenberg I am constantly surprised that no one has deployed these thing irl yet

They are eminently feasible

]]>https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://mstdn.social/users/staringatclouds/statuses/116399671274208346https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://mstdn.social/users/staringatclouds/statuses/116399671274208346Mon, 13 Apr 2026 22:07:10 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to A startup is putting military-style drones in high school ceilings. on Mon, 13 Apr 2026 22:02:38 GMT]]>@ariarhythmic @brian_greenberg His pinned post is AI-boosting, so... 🤔

]]>https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://hachyderm.io/users/dalias/statuses/116399653435921287https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://hachyderm.io/users/dalias/statuses/116399653435921287Mon, 13 Apr 2026 22:02:38 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to A startup is putting military-style drones in high school ceilings. on Mon, 13 Apr 2026 21:55:32 GMT]]>@LukefromDC @sfoskett @brian_greenberg but they don't have a state mandate to use violence

]]>https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://hachyderm.io/users/aburka/statuses/116399625523603330https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://hachyderm.io/users/aburka/statuses/116399625523603330Mon, 13 Apr 2026 21:55:32 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to A startup is putting military-style drones in high school ceilings. on Mon, 13 Apr 2026 21:48:51 GMT]]>@brian_greenberg isn’t Mithril another Lord of the Rings reference?

]]>https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://mastodon.social/users/blogdiva/statuses/116399599219222088https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://mastodon.social/users/blogdiva/statuses/116399599219222088Mon, 13 Apr 2026 21:48:51 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to A startup is putting military-style drones in high school ceilings. on Mon, 13 Apr 2026 21:30:51 GMT]]>@brian_greenberg ...the way to stop a bad guy with a gun is a DRONE WITH A GUN?

]]>https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://discuss.systems/users/RustedComputing/statuses/116399528450851352https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://discuss.systems/users/RustedComputing/statuses/116399528450851352Mon, 13 Apr 2026 21:30:51 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to A startup is putting military-style drones in high school ceilings. on Mon, 13 Apr 2026 21:01:17 GMT]]>@brian_greenberg I thought it was bad when South Carolina’s Education Department formed a partnership last week with the group Turning Point. I will fight this tooth and nail.

]]>https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://mastodon.sdf.org/users/Beachbum/statuses/116399412179884071https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://mastodon.sdf.org/users/Beachbum/statuses/116399412179884071Mon, 13 Apr 2026 21:01:17 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to A startup is putting military-style drones in high school ceilings. on Mon, 13 Apr 2026 20:59:39 GMT]]>@brian_greenberg Wow, just Wow.

]]>https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://mastodon.sdf.org/users/Beachbum/statuses/116399405773508388https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://mastodon.sdf.org/users/Beachbum/statuses/116399405773508388Mon, 13 Apr 2026 20:59:39 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to A startup is putting military-style drones in high school ceilings. on Mon, 13 Apr 2026 20:47:36 GMT]]>@brian_greenberg
My message to the kids:

Break these fucking things

]]>https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://mastodon.social/users/saucerlost/statuses/116399358348158465https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://mastodon.social/users/saucerlost/statuses/116399358348158465Mon, 13 Apr 2026 20:47:36 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to A startup is putting military-style drones in high school ceilings. on Mon, 13 Apr 2026 20:41:25 GMT]]>@brian_greenberg post reads like AI slop, in case it is, please learn better

]]>https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://ohai.social/ap/users/115628614496668967/statuses/116399334077986566https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://ohai.social/ap/users/115628614496668967/statuses/116399334077986566Mon, 13 Apr 2026 20:41:25 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to A startup is putting military-style drones in high school ceilings. on Mon, 13 Apr 2026 20:35:17 GMT]]>@brian_greenberg
Pepper gel sounds like a great way to create a mass chemical attack in a storm/power outage/earthquake.

/s

]]>https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://masto.ai/users/sollat/statuses/116399309948363713https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://masto.ai/users/sollat/statuses/116399309948363713Mon, 13 Apr 2026 20:35:17 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to A startup is putting military-style drones in high school ceilings. on Mon, 13 Apr 2026 20:34:40 GMT]]>@brian_greenberg On the weekend I watched a dramatization of a school shooting and it honestly traumatized me more than any war movie I've ever seen. Not sure this is the solution but I sure do get the motivation.

]]>https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://thecanadian.social/users/mike/statuses/116399307548954484https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://thecanadian.social/users/mike/statuses/116399307548954484Mon, 13 Apr 2026 20:34:40 GMT