Drone owners in the US will be required to register their drones with the US Department of Transportation.
The government says it will pull together a task force to come up with recommendations on how to best implement the plan by the middle of next month, and that the new requirements will be in place by December.
The change in restrictions follow well-documented near misses involving drones, and the US hopes the new rules will force hobbyists to learn the correct rules to use drones safely. Of course, it also means that if you break the rules, you’re easier to find.
Unfortunately, while the aim behind the registration requirement might be honorable, it’s unlikely that it will result in safer overall use of drones – people who want to skirt drone registration will do so in the same way the ‘bad guys’ skirt gun registration laws.
➤ US Department of Transportation Live Press Conference [YouTube]
Get the TNW newsletter
Get the most important tech news in your inbox each week.