The Swedish judiciary has ruled that camera drones are surveillance devices, meaning their pilots will have to get a seldom-issued permit to use them for private flights.
The judgement from the highest court in the land looked at two cases, one against private drones and the other against a camera mounted on a bicycle. The judges found that the bike-mounted camera is fine – because it goes where its owner goes – but that airborne drones were capable of spying things out of sight and therefore must be characterized as surveillance devices.
"The Court further found that the camera can be used for personal monitoring, although it is not the purpose," the ruling reads. "The camera is therefore to be regarded as a surveillance camera."
Private drone operators will now have to apply for a permit stating that the use of the camera drone is for monitoring personal property. Since that excludes the vast majority of drone flight for things like racing, nature photography, and the odd wedding, fliers and the industry association are in full Viking mode over the proposal.
They should not have made the drones angry...
(Score: 2) by Runaway1956 on Thursday October 27 2016, @09:15AM
The camera on the bicycle is alright - cameras mounted on drones not alright.
So, get six drones to lift your bicycle into the air, and record whatever you want!!
Yes, I'm just being a smartass here - TFS specifies that the bicycle mount is fine BECAUSE it goes where the owner goes. So, if the owner has his bicycle aloft, while he controls the drones from the ground, he would be violating the law. Which is cool with me. The neighbors don't need to be snooping on my side of a twelve foot high privacy fence. well - if I had a privacy fence. Hmmmm - maybe I can define my trees as a privacy fence, to get out of paying the timber tax? Food for thought . . . .
(Score: 2) by LoRdTAW on Thursday October 27 2016, @12:55PM
Someone already solved this problem: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bpko3CPHonQ [youtube.com]
(Score: 4, Interesting) by MostCynical on Thursday October 27 2016, @09:28AM
in Australia, there is a clear set of steps to get a commercial UAV licence.
https://www.rpastraining.com.au/remote-pilot [rpastraining.com.au]
You still need to fly for a company that has a UAV controller licence.
Private pilots can fly - but not everywhere:
If you are not making any commercial gain from your flying, then you may fly your UAV without requiring certification (please note however that “commercial gain” can include flights for advertising purposes or even uploading videos to YouTube – there does not have to be a direct payment involved). The following restrictions apply for uncertified flying:
Below 400 ft (120 m)
In uncontrolled (Class G) airspace
More than 3 nm (5.5 km) from an aerodrome or helipad listed on the VTC
More than 30 m away from other people
Not in a Populous Area
Within Visual Line of Sight (VLOS) – this means no FPV unless you have a spotter who can take control at any time
So at least they aren't *completely* outlawed.
"I guess once you start doubting, there's no end to it." -Batou, Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex
(Score: 1) by robpow on Thursday October 27 2016, @03:39PM
This ruling however is on the filming from a drone, not on flying it.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday October 27 2016, @10:40AM
In Yemen they fly drones to take photos of weddings, even though it's technically illegal.
(Score: 1, Insightful) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday October 27 2016, @03:35PM
The U.S. also flies drones to bomb weddings, even though it's technically a war crime.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Friday October 28 2016, @12:01AM
woosh
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Friday October 28 2016, @01:54AM
*boom*
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday October 27 2016, @11:12AM
So, does that mean that only gov gets to use drones?
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday October 27 2016, @01:22PM
How about you do at least a LITTLE reading of even just the summary above, and you'll answer your own question.
(Score: 2) by FatPhil on Thursday October 27 2016, @02:17PM
Still Legal - amiright?
Great minds discuss ideas; average minds discuss events; small minds discuss people; the smallest discuss themselves
(Score: 2) by tisI on Thursday October 27 2016, @02:24PM
When can we have one of those laws here in the US?
Would cut way back on the pervert peeping tom issue we currently have with our current crop of drone owners.
"Suppose you were an idiot...and suppose you were a member of Congress...but I repeat myself."
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday October 27 2016, @06:55PM
oh yeah, the spy threat is the people not the government, police, etc. give me a break. i hope you're being sarcastic.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday October 29 2016, @04:22PM
Just put on a cape and say you are a superhero (TM) and you are crime fighting!