UK Drone Registration Coming

The UK government has announced a plan to require drone owners to register their devices. It says the incoming rules are aimed at ensuring safer use of the technology.

Under the planned regulations, owners of drones weighing more than 250 grams will, in future, be required to register their devices, with the stated aim being to “improve accountability and encourage owners to act responsibly”.

A similar plan in the US to require drone owners register their devices with the Federal Aviation Authority was struck down by an appeals court in May. Though Congress could still legislate on the issue.

In the UK, the government is also planning a new drone safety awareness test that drone owners will have to take to prove they understand relevant safety, security and privacy regulations.

There’s no timeframe for when the new UK drone regulations will come into force. Nor are there concrete details of how the rules will be enforced. The government says drone owners “may” be able to register their drones online or through apps, suggesting it’s still exploring options.

The move follows a consultation, published at the end of last year, that took views from members of the public, and which recommended addressing “safety, security and privacy challenges and concerns that drones present”.

Of particular concern to the government is safety research carried out by the Department for Transport (DfT), British Airline Pilots’ Association and the Military Aviation Authority that found drones weighing 400 grams or more can damage the windscreens of helicopters. (Although airline windscreens were found to be much more resistant to collision with a drone.)

There have been several stories of drone near misses in UK air space in recent years. While drones are also increasingly being used to smuggle contraband into prisons such as drugs and mobile phones.

The government says it intends to bring forward and expand the use of geo-fencing technology in order to effectively create no-fly areas around “sensitive” zones such as prisons and airports.

And while the DfT notes that some drone manufacturers have already programmed their drones not to fly in “sensitive areas” it says the government “would like to reinforce this work”.

Commenting in a statement, aviation minister Lord Callanan said: “Our measures prioritise protecting the public while maximising the full potential of drones. Increasingly, drones are proving vital for inspecting transport infrastructure for repair or aiding police and fire services in search and rescue operations, even helping to save lives.

“But like all technology, drones too can be misused. By registering drones, introducing safety awareness tests to educate users we can reduce the inadvertent breaching of airspace restrictions to protect the public.”

Drone maker DJI has welcomed the UK’s drone registration announcement, saying it supports “simple schemes for pilots to easily register drones with governments, as well as educational initiatives to ensure pilots understand how to fly drones safely”.

In a statement, Brendan Schulman, DJI’s VP of policy and legal affairs, said the new rules appear to “strike a sensible balance between protecting public safety and bringing [drone] benefits to the UK’s businesses and the public at large”.

“DJI has invested heavily in adding safety features, and we expect the government to work closely with industry leaders to ensure progress and promote technological innovation. We are encouraged by the fair and thoughtful approach the government has taken to date. The key will be maintaining this balance in the next round of deliberation,” he added.

The drone maker said it already implements a geo-fencing system in its drones which uses GPS navigation to, in its words, “help pilots steer clear of airports, prisons, power plants, and other sensitive locations”. But also expressed reservations about what it dubbed “unnecessary restrictions” being placed on drone owners.

“Plans on deterrents and no fly zones should be developed so that they are proportional to the risks and do not impose unnecessary restrictions. The best answer to collision hazards is to take steps to avoid the collision in the first place, and DJI is proud to be a leader in technology initiatives to accomplish that objective,” it said.

Last year the UK government and the Civil Aviation Authority put out a drone code offering steerage to drone owners on how to make safe use of their devices while regulations continued to be developed.

Key principles in the drone code include to always keep your drone in sight and to stay below 400 feet (120 meters).

TechCrunch

You Might Also Read: 

An Entire Anti-Drone Industry Is Emerging:

A New Autonomous Tactical Drone:

 

« Police Can’t Reduce Cybecrime
TalkTalk Still Feeling The Effects Of Cyber Attack »

CyberSecurity Jobsite
Check Point

Directory of Suppliers

ZenGRC

ZenGRC

ZenGRC (formerly Reciprocity) is a leader in the GRC SaaS landscape, offering robust and intuitive products designed to make compliance straightforward and efficient.

Practice Labs

Practice Labs

Practice Labs is an IT competency hub, where live-lab environments give access to real equipment for hands-on practice of essential cybersecurity skills.

The PC Support Group

The PC Support Group

A partnership with The PC Support Group delivers improved productivity, reduced costs and protects your business through exceptional IT, telecoms and cybersecurity services.

Resecurity

Resecurity

Resecurity is a cybersecurity company that delivers a unified platform for endpoint protection, risk management, and cyber threat intelligence.

NordLayer

NordLayer

NordLayer is an adaptive network access security solution for modern businesses — from the world’s most trusted cybersecurity brand, Nord Security. 

PFP Cybersecurity

PFP Cybersecurity

PFP provides a SaaS solution for life-cycle protection based on our IoT security platform and power usage analytics.

Gatewatcher

Gatewatcher

Gatewatcher is a digital breach detection platform targeting crafted attacks and protecting organizations against advanced cyber threats.

UK Cyber Security Forum

UK Cyber Security Forum

UK Cyber Security Forum is a community interest group for cyber security companies in the UK.

Averon

Averon

Averon's technology is the new gold standard for digital identity - the easiest, fastest and most secure verification solution for users on both WiFi and LTE.

Ivanti

Ivanti

Ivanti provide user-centered IT solutions designed to increase user productivity while reducing IT security risk.

Horangi

Horangi

Horangi provides security products and services that enable the rapid delivery of Incident Response and threat detection for our customers who lack the scale, expertise, or time to do it themselves.

Cyble

Cyble

Cyble Vision enables faster detection of cyber threats and focuses on identifying and analysing the motivations, methods, capabilities and tools of adversaries.

Enterprise Incubator Foundation (EIF)

Enterprise Incubator Foundation (EIF)

Enterprise Incubator Foundation (EIF) of Armenia is one of the largest technology business incubators and IT development agencies in the region.

K2 Cyber Security

K2 Cyber Security

K2 Cyber Security delivers the Next Generation Application Workload Protection Platform to secure web applications and container workloads against sophisticated attacks.

Onevinn

Onevinn

Onevinn's goal is to create a transparent, cost-effective security that is noticed as little as possible by the users. We simply call it "intelligent security."

Cira Info Tech

Cira Info Tech

Cira InfoTech’s cyber security and network consulting and managed services deliver unmatched talented resources and capabilities required to design and build an agile and adaptive IT environment.

Atlantic Data Security

Atlantic Data Security

Atlantic Data Security is skilled in the analysis, recommendation, deployment, and management of all critical components of the security infrastructure.

National Coordinator for Security and Counterterrorism (NCTV) - Netherlands

National Coordinator for Security and Counterterrorism (NCTV) - Netherlands

The NCTV serves the Netherlands’ national security. We protect national interests, identify threats and strengthen resilience.

Transatlantic Cyber Security Business Network

Transatlantic Cyber Security Business Network

The Transatlantic Cyber Security Business Network is a coalition of UK and US cyber security companies which facilitates collaboration to help address critical cyber security challenges.

Transcendental Technologies

Transcendental Technologies

Transcendental is a consulting organization which specializes in customized assurance services in the fields of Localization, Mobile Software Solutions, Web Design, Cyber Security & Cyber Forensics.

Prefactor

Prefactor

Prefactor was built because the problem of authenticating and authorizing users continues to be a battle engineers face globally.