Czech Republic debates drone interception rights for critical infrastructure

A proposed legislative amendment in the Czech Republic aims to grant operators of critical infrastructure, such as power plants and airports, the authority to intercept or destroy dangerous drones. Currently, only police and military personnel possess these capabilities.

The proposal has faced significant criticism from various authorities. The Czech Telecommunication Office (ČTÚ) warned that unprofessional signal jamming could paralyze mobile networks, emergency response systems, airport technologies, and energy grids. The office also noted that jamming might interfere with satellite positioning systems (GNSS) used by toll gates and may be ineffective against sophisticated drones controlled via optical fiber or autonomous AI-driven machines.

Additionally, the Security Information Service (BIS) and the Ministry of Defense have requested that intelligence officers be granted the right to personally prevent, damage, or destroy drones when their facilities or protected persons are under immediate threat.

In a related security context, the ORLEN Unipetrol refinery in Kralupy nad Vltavou, a strategic national asset, reports frequent security breaches by recreational drone pilots. The facility's security service monitors all flights in the vicinity and coordinates with the Czech Police to address violations of restricted airspace.