According to Me Jean-Baptiste Soufron, “the Ministry of the Interior is trying to push through” on the issue of drones: “what is indicated by European texts is that the use of drones must be authorized when it it is an absolute necessity”.
The police send “drones everywhere for anything”denounced Tuesday May 16 on franceinfo Jean-Baptiste Soufron, lawyer at the Paris bar and member of the association for the Defense of constitutional freedoms, who filed the appeal examined this Tuesday by the Council of State concerning the use of drones by the police.
The conditions under which the police can use drones have recently evolved with a decree of April 19, 2023. Their use was validated by the administrative judge during the high-risk demonstrations of May 1. But for the lawyer, “we can’t take out a drone” without a frame “because the risks for privacy and for the general protection of the various political freedoms and citizens would not be respected”he explained.
“The Ministry of the Interior is trying to force through”according to him. “We had criteria that seemed clear. Except that the police decided to exempt themselves from them and to try to send drones everywhere for anything”, he denounced. He recalls that “The use of drones must be exceptional. What is indicated by European texts is that the use of drones must be authorized when it is absolutely necessary”he said.
A limited scope of drone action so as not to film private areas
Master Jean-Baptiste Soufron is not asking for the outright banning of drones: “We are in 2023. The police forces want to be able to use modern means to fulfill their mission, simply, it is normal, as with tear gas canisters, as with all tools that are dangerous, that there are conditions and criteria to be met in order to do so”he said. “It’s not about using drones just anyhow. But that’s what’s happening”he says.
The lawyer would like the perimeters of action of the drones to be limited, in particular in Paris, to prevent private areas from being filmed, such as windows, balconies, interior courtyards: “A drone, once it is placed at a height, it films over a radius of 600 meters. It records everything it wants. Are the French today ready to accept that a police investigator can look out the window and open your curtains to see what’s going on in your home? I don’t think so.”he says.
Master Jean-Baptiste Soufron also wishes to restrict the use of drones in time only during the event or demonstration and not beyond. In addition, he would like an audible warning and a visual warning to warn people that they are going to be filmed. It is a request from the CNIL, he specifies.