The media contains many reports of episodes in USA where intruding drones have been shot down by concerned citizens[1]. There have also been incidents where drones have been involved in near misses or collisions with commercial airplanes in the UK[2].

These incidents have compelled authorities to legislate on the operation of unmanned aircraft. In March 2017, the American Senator Ed Markey introduced a bill that aims at protecting the privacy of American citizens against drones[3]. The bill makes it mandatory to disclose the name of the owner of the UAV, contact information and the capabilities of the aircraft[4]. Such legislation would be an improvement concerning efforts to protect the privacy of citizens, but is it realistic to enforce in practice?

RESEIWE already offers a technological solution for drones that addresses concerns about safety and privacy: Drone ID system, which consists of a transponder capable of transmitting all the information mentioned in the bill in compliance with current or future legislation. This information is available to the authorities and general public through an app that can be installed in a smartphone. Therefore, Drone ID system represents the ideal solution to the issues of privacy and safety raised by the operation of drones. Drone ID system also includes the possibility of logging location and route information for the benefit of the owners of the UAV. Moreover, the option of transmitting location information to other drones in the vicinity can prevent collisions with other aircraft.

In April 2017, Germany also amended its rules for operation of drones, demanding that UAVs carry an aluminum sticker bearing the name of the operator. The new rules are an expression of the concern that German authorities share with the general public regarding privacy issues and safety.

However, there are voices calling for more detailed rules. Christian Hoppe, who is the spokesman for Deutsche Flugsicherung, the company responsible for air-traffic control, was quoted for saying: “Registration is a bit more advanced because it has to be possible to detect a drone, (…) Therefore registration with something more, for example, a technology [with which] you can see the drone on radar, would be a next step we are in favor of.”[5]

This statement shows that some organizations call for a technological solution that can support the efforts of the authorities in enforcing the current legislation regarding drone traffic. As mentioned, RESEIWE offers a solution that far surpasses the suggestion of Deutsche Flugsicherung. Drone ID system can contribute much to improving the safety in the operation of UAVs, while safeguarding the privacy of the citizens, as stipulated by current legislation. It is just a matter of time before authorities in Europe introduce regulations that require a technological solution capable of enforcing rules that promote safety and privacy.

In this context, the European Commission in June 2017 published a news release that contains the recommendations that the Single European Sky Air traffic management Research (SESAR) has made concerning the future regulations of UAVs. One of the main proposals is the introduction of electronic identification for drones in order to increase airspace safety by 2019[6]. Therefore, the discussions regarding the need of implementing ID for drones will pave the way for a legislation that requires the use of Drone ID system since our solution is by far the best option on the market.

[1] http://www.slate.com/articles/technology/future_tense/2016/05/drone_privacy_is_about_much_more_than_ sunbathing_teenage_daughters.html

[2] http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2016/04/17/drone-hits-british-airways-plane/; http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/12180261/Number-of-near-misses-involving-drones-and-aircraft-quadruples-in-one-year.html

[3] https://www.recode.net/2017/3/15/14934050/federal-privacy-laws-spying-drones-senate-hearing

[4] https://www.markey.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/2017-03-14-DronePrivacy-Bill-text.pdf

[5] http://www.zdnet.com/article/drone-laws-new-german-rules-aim-to-stop-eye-in-the-sky-snooping/

[6] http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_IP-17-1605_en.htm#_ftn1