Understanding Drone Privacy and Security Regulations

Mark McKinnon is a Partner at Fox Rothschild LLP, a national law firm representing aviation entities in international transactions and business dealings. He has over 30 years of experience in all areas of aviation and transportation law including litigation, appellate, regulatory, and other administrative matters. Mark has written and spoken extensively on unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) and other aviation subjects. Additionally, he is the co-editor of the Plane-ly Spoken Blog, a publication dedicated to providing up-to-date news, analysis, and opinions on issues affecting the aviation industry.

In this episode…

Drone regulations in the aviation industry are ambiguous and vague, leading many companies to neglect privacy and security considerations. So, how can you prioritize these concerns to avoid potential lawsuits from clients?

According to Mark McKinnon, the Supreme Court has ruled that drones can operate at an altitude of only 200 feet without violating individuals’ reasonable expectations of privacy. But this ruling has been frequently disputed, which is why it’s critical to evaluate the regulations of the region you plan to operate from. Once you’ve established this, determine the purpose for the data you’ve collected and ensure you’re not releasing it to the public without your clients’ permission. By maintaining transparency with clients regarding their data usage, you can protect their privacy.

In today’s episode of She Said Privacy/He Said Security, Jodi and Justin Daniels talk with Mark McKinnon, a partner at Fox Rothschild LLP, about how drone companies can ensure individual privacy and security. He discusses how the Supreme Court dictates aviation privacy regulations, the implications of commercial drone usage, and common privacy and security mistakes companies make when utilizing drones.