State Police Rely on Chinese Drones - Criticism - Drone Debate: Critics Warn of Security Risks in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania's Police Use of Chinese DJI Drones
The use of drones by the Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania's state police has sparked debate, with critics warning of potential security risks. The force operates 17 drones from Chinese manufacturer DJI, raising concerns about data privacy and foreign influence.
The state police use these drones for various tasks, including documenting crime scenes and monitoring large-scale events. The Ministry of the Interior assures that communication between the drones and their pilots does not occur over public networks. However, Constanze Oehlrich, chair and interior policy spokesperson for the Green Party, has criticized this practice. Following a cyberattack on the state police service phones, likely originating from China, Oehlrich argued that Chinese drones should not be used in sensitive security operations due to potential data leaks.
DJI, the manufacturer, has dismissed these concerns, attributing them to protectionism driven by its Chinese origins. The USA has also expressed similar concerns, attempting to ban the use of DJI drones in government agencies. However, there are no official statements from the Mecklenburg-Vorpommern state government addressing these issues specifically.
The debate highlights broader concerns about reliance on foreign suppliers, especially from China, in critical infrastructure and law enforcement equipment. Oehlrich has called for a review of procurement rules if the Interior Ministry insists on compliance with procurement law when it comes to drones. Despite these concerns, the state police continue to use DJI drones, with the Ministry of the Interior maintaining that they pose no risk to security operations.
