Google is the first to object ... and its operators demand the application of the principle of "ground rules on the air"
New amendments raise controversy over the operation of "Drones" in America
The modifications require manufacturers and operators of aircraft to be equipped to broadcast their locations throughout their time in the air. ■ From the source
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New amendments, recently proposed by the US authorities, to the law on operating small civil unmanned aircraft (drones), sparked a wave of controversy between manufacturers and operators of these aircraft, as well as consumers benefiting from their services in transporting goods and parcels, as the new amendments stipulate the obligation on manufacturers and operators of aircraft By equipping them to broadcast their sites and the locations of their operators on the ground, throughout their presence in the air, and during landing and takeoff, what many considered to be a massive breach of privacy and personal life, not applicable in the case of cars that provide transportation services on the ground, even if they are self-driving.
The first objectors
The American company, Google, was the first to object to the amendments, through "Google Wing", a branch of the "Alpha Bit" company, which is the parent company of "Google", which published a comment on its official website wing.com, expressing its absolute rejection. According to the principle of direct real-time broadcasting of the aircraft’s location and operator, many of the other “drone” manufacturers and operators can run on its passengers, while the US Federal Aviation Administration has designated a section in the “News Section” on its website faa.gov/ news / media, to receive Comments and proposals regarding this controversy, which drew the attention of the "Drones" manufacturers and its users worldwide, considering the method and scope of identifying the aircraft and the operator as a legal and technical issue, representing a point of discussion and disagreement for everyone, not just in the United States.
Modifications and their causes
According to the Federal Aviation Administration website, the new amendments stipulate that every drone in US airspace will need to broadcast its locations, as well as the location of its pilots, in order to address safety, national security, and law enforcement concerns regarding the increased integration of these aircraft into United States airspace.
Over the next 18 months, the Federal Aviation Administration will urge an expansion of the routes through which the operator can comply with the Federal Aviation Administration's remote identification requirements, enabling compliance through broadcast or network technologies.
In terms of the timeframe for the formal implementation of these amendments, by 2022, the United States government will require every new mass-produced drone weighing more than 0.55 pounds (0.25 kilogram) to broadcast its location and the location of its operator, with the publication of an identification number that can apply Refer to the law, along with the aircraft's registration number and operator, in addition to the aircraft's speed and altitude.
The government confirmed that there is no exemption for drones, even those that are manufactured locally or domestically, and it does not matter whether you fly for the hobby, or even just flying indoors, as they must be modified with a new transmission unit, or only used in an area Dedicated unmanned aircraft, called: "Federal Aviation Administration Recognized Designation Area."
Corporations objections
Google Wing, in turn, saw that the new modifications make the observer who tracks a drone aircraft able to deduce sensitive information about the operators and consumers benefiting from the services of "Drones". He can also focus on specific people, including where they arrive. And spend time or live in it, as well as where and when do dealers receive parcels from the company?
The company clarified that this type of monitoring is not applied at all with the transport, delivery and exchange of goods and services through land vehicles, even "autonomous" ones, because society has not and will not accept it, and therefore there should be no such thing in the sky with "Drones", because Everyone will request the application of the principle of "rules of the earth on the air", to protect privacy and personal life.
The companies say that the new amendments mean an additional cost, which is the addition of a cellular modem to the Drones, the cost of paying for the monthly cellular data service, and exposure to the violation unjustly, in the absence of reliable cellular coverage in the area in which you work, as the amendments impose The presence of a third-party data broker to track and store location data, thus being exposed to security attacks and breaches later, and in the event of a "denial of service" attack, this means that all aircraft on the ground remain immobile, and thus this approach creates major barriers to actual compliance. Requirements for streaming the website continuously.
Suggested alternatives
Companies and the consumer community offer an alternative to the proposed modifications, represented in the method of "remote identification", which is done by placing a sticker or electronic card in a visible place in the plane, acting as a license plate to work in the airspace, as is the case with the license plate of cars on Earth.
The remote identification method allows the identification of the drone during its flight without sharing the full flight path, flight history, or other information that violates privacy and private life, and is considered more sensitive, in addition to that this information is not displayed to the public, but is made available. Only law enforcement, if they have appropriate credentials, and a reason for needing this information.