In a world increasingly defined by technological marvels, a deeply unsettling development has emerged from China: a mosquito-sized drone capable of covert surveillance and, potentially, deadly attacks. This micro-technology raises not only global security alarms but also serious moral concerns for people of faith, particularly Catholics who believe in the sanctity of life and the dignity of the human person.
China has publicly revealed what many are calling a “terrifying” advance in spy technology—a spindly, insect-like drone so small it resembles a mosquito. A video published by Chinese state media shows scientists proudly displaying the device, which “will perform a range of military and civilian activities.” According to The US Sun, the drone features “two yellow, leaf-like wings, a black thin body and three wiry legs.” Its design is not merely for show. Its size and silence allow it to “covertly access private indoor areas and listen in on people’s conversations,” according to experts cited by the outlet.
Sam Bresnick, a research fellow at Georgetown’s Center for Security and Emerging Technology, told The Telegraph: “If China is able to produce mosquito-sized drones, it would likely be interested in using them for various intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance tasks, especially in places that larger drones struggle to access, such as indoor areas.” He added, “These drones could be used to track individuals or listen in on conversations.”
As Catholics, we must ask: At what cost does innovation proceed? Surveillance tools that violate the sacredness of personal space, privacy, and bodily autonomy are not just a political issue—they’re a moral one. The Catechism of the Catholic Church reminds us that “man has the right to act in conscience and in freedom so as personally to make moral decisions” (CCC 1782). But when even our most private spaces can be invaded without our knowledge, that freedom is deeply compromised.
Even more troubling is the potential for weaponization. Timothy Heath, a senior defense researcher in the U.S., cautioned these tiny devices “could even be exploited by criminals trying to gain access to people’s passwords.” Tracey Follows, a former Google futurist, warned of drones capable of delivering deadly pathogens, saying, “Not only can you identify somebody personally, you can then attack them with a virus, for example.” In her words to The Sun, she added, “In time, one expects a drone to have the situational awareness to carry out an attack autonomously without a human in the loop.”
These capabilities echo dystopian themes found in shows like Black Mirror, but the difference is that this is no longer fiction. It is our reality—or rapidly becoming so.
The Church has always called for the ethical use of technology, urging that scientific progress be guided by a respect for life and the common good. Pope Benedict XVI warned in Caritas in Veritate: “Technology is never merely technology. It reveals man and his aspirations towards development, expresses his way of conceiving and pursuing progress.”
In a time when even the air around us may soon host invisible weapons, Catholics must become both vigilant and vocal. We must ask our leaders and innovators: Does this technology serve humanity or enslave it?
For now, these mosquito-sized drones are a sign of what is technologically possible. But for people of faith, they are also a wake-up call—a reminder that progress, without virtue, can become peril.
