French judge bans drones used to monitor compliance with coronavirus restrictions

A judge in France has halted the government’s use of drones to enforce stay-at-home orders, citing privacy concerns.

Bloomberg News reported Monday that the Conseil d’État, one of the highest courts in the country, ruled that police authorities may only use drone surveillance to enforce social distancing and other coronavirus restrictions once concerns about the data collected by the drones are addressed.

The ruling comes after privacy groups including La Quadrature du Net filed a lawsuit arguing that the drones used by Paris police collected information on individuals without their knowledge and stored it without their consent without any limits.

“If the police intended to take advantage of the health crisis to test new gadgets, they got things wrong,” the groups said at the time, according to Bloomberg.

To address those concerns, the Conseil d’État ruled that lawmakers must pass a provision limiting the types of data that can be collected and limiting how long it remains stored, or equip drones with technology that shields individuals’ identities from drone operators.

“Drones surveillance is suspended,” Paris police said, according to Bloomberg. Police will review “the technical and legal conditions to respond to requirements,” they reportedly added.

One of the groups behind the lawsuit celebrated Monday’s ruling in a statement to Bloomberg.

“The decision recognizes the illegality of any drone flying low enough and being equipped with a camera that it allows the police to detect individuals, whether by their clothing or a distinctive sign,” said La Quadrature du Net’s spokesperson.