Due to the rapid spread of coronavirus in Spain, the government declared a state of emergency on 13 March and ordered all 43 million citizens to stay inside. On the same day, BBC footage appeared showing a police drone patrolling the park in Madrid and the police reminding people to go home and not leave unless absolutely necessary. The use of drones is justified by the government as a safe way for authorities to do their work without getting in close contact with citizens, but it has also been criticised out of fear of total surveillance and human rights violations.