Czech government approves bills to let infrastructure operators take down drones

The Czech government has approved legislative proposals that would give operators of critical infrastructure wider powers to remove drones entering prohibited zones, the interior ministry in Prague said on Monday, according to Reuters.

The new rules would set out a quick and proportionate response to drones entering the perimeter of critical sites such as transport or energy facilities, and operators would be allowed to eliminate drones that do not cooperate under precise rules, the ministry said. It described the proposals as a response to the security situation in Europe and the fast development of drones.

The measures need the approval of the Czech parliament. Interior Minister Lubomir Metnar said that, from the experience of the Czech Republic and other countries, the speed of the response to a drone is essential for protecting critical infrastructure.

In August, France adopted a law allowing approved operators of critical infrastructure and their contractors to detect, jam or shoot down drones near designated sites, Reuters noted.