(OPINION) In a chilling forecast, Tracey Follows, a former Google futurist who has also collaborated with tech giants like Amazon and Meta, has raised alarms about the potential misuse of advanced drone technology by nations such as China and Russia.

According to an article published by The Sun, Follows warns that insect-sized drones, equipped with cutting-edge camouflage and autonomous capabilities, could be deployed to spy on Western nations and even carry out untraceable assassinations.

This alarming prediction draws parallels to dystopian scenarios depicted in science fiction, such as the Black Mirror episode “Hated in the Nation,” where robotic bees are hijacked for nefarious purposes.

Follows, now the founder of the consultancy service Futuremade, highlights the rapid advancements in drone technology that make such scenarios plausible.

These micro-drones, designed to mimic the size and appearance of insects, could operate with a level of autonomy that eliminates the need for human intervention.

“In time, one expects a drone to have the situational awareness to carry out an attack autonomously without a human in the loop,” Follows told The Sun.

The critical question, she notes, is the payload: these drones could carry not only surveillance equipment but also deadly pathogens or toxins, making them potential tools for covert biological attacks.

The ability to camouflage these drones enhances their threat. Follows explains that their small size and advanced technology could make it nearly impossible for targeted nations to detect or trace them.

This capability could allow rogue states to execute assassinations or espionage operations without leaving evidence, a concern amplified by historical incidents like the 2018 poisoning of former Russian spy Sergei Skripal in Salisbury, UK.

In that case, Russia was accused of using the nerve agent Novichok, though Moscow denied involvement.

Follows suggests that drone-based attacks could be even harder to attribute, potentially enabling perpetrators to evade accountability.

Beyond lethal applications, Follows warns that these micro-drones could be used to record personal conversations without consent, posing a significant threat to privacy.

The ability to deploy tiny, inconspicuous devices capable of audio and video surveillance could undermine personal and national security in unprecedented ways.

Such technology, if wielded by hostile nations, could target sensitive locations—government buildings, military bases, or even private residences—without detection.