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New bill to ban drones over Olympic venues, military sites

8 Comments

The Japanese government has proposed a bill that revises the current drone regulation law to prohibit drones from flying over venues of the 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games, as well as within 300 meters of facilities of the Self Defense Forces and U.S. military bases.

The government said the revision to the bill aims to strengthen counter-terrorism measures in preparation for the upcoming Tokyo Olympics where government officials and tourists will gather from around the world, Sankei Shimbun reported.

The ban on drones also applies to the the 2019 Rugby World Cup which will be held in Japan from Sept 20 to Nov 2. 

Drones operating without permits will be confiscated or destroyed by police and the Japan Coast Guard.  

Under the proposed bill, media companies can use drones for photographic purposes only if they obtain consent from the Tokyo Olympic Organizing Committee. Drones will also be banned from flying near certain airports. 

The aviation and drone regulation law of Japan already prohibits the flying of drones over densely populated residential areas, the prime minister’s residence and the Imperial Palace.  

The Japan Newspaper Publishers and Editors Association has submitted a statement to the government expressing its opposition to the law revision. It stated that the government’s proposal “greatly limits the gathering of news material and violates the public’s right to know.”

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8 Comments
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While drones over military bases is believable why ban drones? On vacation at a park one year I saw a kid in a wheelchair using a drone to go places he couldn't. Does he rate a drone?

0 ( +2 / -2 )

The law already prohibits flying in these locations.

4 ( +4 / -0 )

85% of Olympics profit goes to 2 main American broadcasting conglomerates. This maybe behind this.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

Let's face it a minute... this is a good move, ever went to a concert of a band? It's full of smartphones recording every precious moment instead of enjoying the moment lol. Now.. imagine drones instead of smartphones... do u see the picture now?

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

"Under the proposed bill, media companies can use drones for photographic purposes only if they obtain consent from the Tokyo Olympic Organizing Committee. Drones will also be banned from flying near certain airports."

Yeah, a terrorist would never think of going about getting one by such easy means. This is sure fire defense. haha.

"The aviation and drone regulation law of Japan already prohibits the flying of drones over densely populated residential areas, the prime minister’s residence and the Imperial Palace."

And yet, they do it, and have even landed on the PM's residence, crashed into castles and temples during peak tourist seasons, etc.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Why just the Olympics and the Rugby World Cup? If it's such a big terrorism threat, ban them at any large sporting event.

media companies can use drones for photographic purposes only if they obtain consent from the Tokyo Olympic Organizing Committee

How much money has to be paid to obtain this consent?

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Any law written with the excuse that it is to stop terrorist from doing something that the government cannot actually enforce is, without a doubt, a farce, and totally NOT what the government says it is.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

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