Japan banned drone flights over Olympic sites

TOKYO, May 18, 2019, Jiji Press. The Diet enacted Friday a bill to ban drone flights over venues of this year’s Rugby World Cup in Japan from September and the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics during the periods of the events, as part of efforts to prevent terrorist attacks, reported The Japan News.

The bill to revise the law regulating drone flights was approved by a majority vote at a plenary session of the House of Councillors. The bill passed the House of Representatives last month.

Under the revised law, which is expected to come into force in June, flying drones over major airports will also be restricted during the sporting events.

In addition, the revised law will prohibit drone flights over defense-related facilities, such as bases of the Self-Defense Forces and the U.S. military in the country.

The Japan Newspaper Publishers & Editors Association has protested the inclusion of defense-related facilities in the scope of areas covered by the revised law, saying it would greatly restrict news-gathering activities.

On Thursday, the Upper House Cabinet Committee adopted an additional resolution urging the government to secure the public’s right to information and freedom of the press.