A French judge has asked that police cease surveillance drone operations due to the collection of identifying features the drones are able to pick up. All drones used by the French police force must be taken out of operation straight away.
The Quadrature du Net and the League of Human Rights went to the administrative court in Paris to put an end to police surveillance drones being used in the effort to stop the spread of the virus. The application was rejected, so they took it to the Council of State.
The Judge of the Referees of the Council of State ordered yesterday that the State is to immediately stop drone surveillance.
The police had stated that the drones were only being used to monitor crowds and gatherings during the spread of the virus. The judge noted that the drones were equipped with zoom lenses and can fly lower than 80 meters, where a considerable amount of personal data can be acquired by the drone.
The judge found the drones were a “matter of personal data processing” and must follow the guidelines put in place by the Computer and Freedoms Act of January 6, 1978, which outlines that “technology should be at the service to every citizen” and that it “shall not violate human identity, human rights, privacy, or individual or public liberties.”
If the police want to get its drones back into the sky, it is required to equip the drones with a device that would make it impossible to identify the people who happen to be in the drone’s view.
The Quadrature du Net has stated the decision as being a major victory against drone surveillance and ensures that drones equipped with a camera and one that is flying low enough to detect a person by their clothes or distinct features is illegal.
If the French police or any other group want to use a drone in such a way, they must first get a ministerial decree that has to be reviewed by the Commission Nationale de L’informatique et des Libertés (CNIL).
Photo: Mitch Nielsen
FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.
Subscribe to DroneDJ on YouTube for exclusive videos
You’re reading DroneDJ — experts who break news about DJI and the wider drone ecosystem, day after day. Be sure to check out our homepage for all the latest news, and follow DroneDJ on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn to stay in the loop. Don’t know where to start? Check out our exclusive stories, reviews, how-tos, and subscribe to our YouTube channel.
Related Posts
DJI says its drones will be ready for the new
A one-take drone ad offers a touching look at private
Two awesome videos showcase DJI Air 2S 1-inch sensor