“Too many eyes in the sky:” The impact of private sector drone use on the right to privacy and data protection
Keywords:
drones, RPAS, data protection, privacy, surveillance, emerging technologies, European law, European Convention on Human Rights, Data Protection Directive, General Data Protection Regulation, private sectorAbstract
The once-looming prospect of expanded use of Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS, or colloquially drones) into non-military operations has now become reality. Although not a new phenomenon, the influence of new technology, which has characterised the 21st century, has seen the use of RPAS expanding into the commercial, non-commercial and governmental sectors. This essay will consider how the use of RPAS will impact on a person’s right to privacy and data protection, and it will analyse to what extent the legal framework of the European Union on privacy and data protection is applicable and adequate to protect infringement of these rights by RPAS. It will also consider the proposed General Data Protection Regulation in the context of RPAS, before reaching the conclusion that the existing legal regime needs to be updated to ensure that an integration of RPAS into national airspace does not interfere with personal rights.
