The Council of State on Wednesday validated the use of drones equipped with cameras by the police, said the highest French administrative court in a statement. The judge of the Council of State, who had been seized by the Association for the Defence of Constitutional Freedoms (Adelico), considered that there was "no serious doubt about the legality" of the decree published in April.
'No serious doubts about legality'
The Adelico asked the administrative court to urgently suspend the decree, under which prefects had authorized the overflight of the processions of May 1st.
According to the Council of State, there is "no serious doubt about the legality of this decree given the guarantees that the legal framework defined by the law and the decree offers as to compliance with the requirements for the protection of privacy and personal data under French and European law". The respect, by each prefectural authorization, of these requirements remains, in addition, "subject to the control of the administrative judge", recalls the Council of State.