The processing of personal information using remotely piloted aircraft systems in South Africa

• Main Author: Nomalanga Mashinini
• Format: Article
• Language: Afrikaans
• Published: Pretoria University Law Press 2020-08-01
• Series: De Jure
• Online Access: http://www.dejure.up.ac.za/index.php/volumes/2020/volume-53-2020/mashinini-n

SUMMARY Remotely piloted aircraft systems are becoming a commodity all over the world. Typically known as “drones”, remotely piloted aircraft systems allow pilots to record videos and take photographs without being physically present. Such systems are used in both private and commercial ways that vary from service delivery to surveillance. As such, the protection of the right to privacy faces new challenges under South African law. This paper is concerned with the irresponsible use of remotely piloted aircraft systems, that results in privacy infringement. The article also includes a discussion of the obstacles that come with identifying users of remotely piloted aircraft systems, and the burden that such constraints place on people who seek to enforce their right to privacy. Therefore, the paper is a critical analysis of whether the existing data protection and civil aviation laws can withstand the invasion of remotely piloted aircraft systems in South Africa.