Data Protection Compliance for Drone Operators

In plain language

If you use a drone to collect personal data (like clear images of people) for professional or non-personal use, you must follow data protection laws and be able to prove your compliance.

Requirement as structured

Drone operators who qualify as data controllers must comply with, and be able to demonstrate compliance with, all applicable data protection laws unless the activity is purely household or personal.

Original regulatory text

If you qualify as data controller, because you determine the purposes and means of the data processing activity (see: Data Protection: The Basics), you are obliged to comply (and be able to demonstrate that you are compliant) with all applicable data protection law (see: Guidance on the Principles of Data Protection) unless your activity with the drone can be considered to be purely household or personal activity.