TOKYO: Japan has enacted legislation to severely restrict the flying of drones over venues for the 2020 Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games and US military facilities and as a measure against potential terrorist activities.
The move has sparked protests from opposition parties and the media amid concerns about a possible denial of the people’s right to know and potential disruption to news-gathering activities.
While the legislation all but bans private drone flights, certain organisations including news media may be granted exceptions if prior permission is sought from authorities.
The House of Councillors on Friday approved the bill following its passage through the House of Representatives on April 16.
The legislation similarly restricts the flying of drones over Japan Self-Defense Forces’ facilities and venues for this year’s Rugby World Cup.
Only drones providing coverage for, and controlled by, the media would be allowed to fly over venues during sports events, if permission is granted.
The legislation is an amendment to the existing law which, due to terrorism concerns, already bans drone flights over key facilities such as the prime minister’s office and the Imperial Palace.
The Japan Newspaper Publishers & Editors Association opposed the legislation. “It will greatly limit news-gathering activities and infringe upon the right of the people to be informed,” it said in a statement.
In past Diet sessions, opposition parties, including the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan, expressed concerns that people’s right to know may be hampered because the legislation would prohibit aerial photography and filming of the site in the Henoko district of Okinawa Prefecture where landfill work is under way for the relocation of the US Marine Corps Air Station Futenma.
The government said it has no intention of restricting news-gathering activities.
In response to criticism, lower and upper house panels adopted a supplementary resolution requesting the government ensure press freedom and the people’s right to know.
“Freedom of the press and the people’s right to know will suffer if restrictions go beyond the necessary limits,” the resolution said.
The legislation restricts pilots from flying drones within 300 metres of the boundaries of designated sites.
The police and the SDF are permitted to seize or destroy drones if they are flown near designated zones without permission, and lawbreakers risk up to a year in prison or a maximum fine of 500,000 yen (US$4,550).