National Security Takes Flight In China’s Drone Laws

China has announced a series of regulations aimed at managing the growing number of drones in its skies. Drone owners in the country will have to register with the government beginning next year, according to the first-ever national laws on drones published this Wednesday. The new regulations target improving public safety and bolstering national security.

The published rules put several restrictions in place, notably prohibiting drones from capturing images or videos of military or secret installations. It also outlaws the use of drones for leaking state secrets or illegally transferring information beyond the Chinese mainland. Significantly, the law will disallow non-Chinese drones and pilots who aren’t Chinese nationals from conducting land surveys from 2024 onwards.

The rules respond to increasing threats posed by the rapid increase of drones across sectors, including defense, agriculture, and research, said a spokesperson for both the justice ministry and the state…