Problems in Paris as fears grow over drone use

Problems in Paris as fears grow over drone use

Parisian authorities are on heightened alert following a spate of drone sightings above major landmarks in the French capital.

Daily News Service
Quartz

Police in France are searching for four men in connection with a series of unmanned drone sightings over central Paris last week.

An Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) was spotted by police hovering close to Porte de Montreuil, on the outskirts of the city, according to French news outlets.

The four owners were reported to have recovered the drone and fled the scene by car after police gave chase.

At least 12 drones have been sighted operating near major landmarks in the city as security fears grow amid increased tensions, following the Charlie Hebdo murders last month.

The attack on the French satirical magazine – and subsequent hostage siege – claimed the lives of 17 people.

Daily News Service
Huffington Post

Several drones have been spotted close to highly sensitive parts of Paris since October last year, including one sighting close to the Elysee Palace, and another near the US embassy.

The proliferation of civilian drone use has raised concerns for authorities in several EU countries, including the UK, where the threat of terrorism remains high.

Current laws in France require all drones to be fully licensed, regardless of their application.

Anyone caught operating UAVs in French airspace without permission is liable to face a maximum one-year prison sentence and a £55,000 fine.

“We need to be very vigilant on this, we’re going to have to be extremely careful,” said Stephane Le Foll, a spokesman for the French government.

“The day that we find the people who are doing this, there will be penalties. We will find them, sooner or later.”

Pri
Pri

Private drone use has increased significantly in recent years as the technology has become more affordable.

As their application has grown beyond military use, drones have become a highly sought after commodity, with the potential benefits of the device becoming more apparent within a variety of job industries.

Even Google is taking notice, with plans to launch a new series of high-altitude UAVs announced at the Mobile World Congress earlier this week.

Amber Dubey, an aerospace and defence specialist for KPMG, believes the benefits of drone use should be met with caution: “The useful aspects of civilian drones are several. However, like all technology breakthroughs, drones, too, hold potential risks – intrusive surveillance for unethical practices.”

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