California Drone Legislation Fails To Address Privacy Issues, Harms Innovation, CEA Says

CEA CEO Gary Shapiro and Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International CEO Brian Wynne released a joint statement Thursday opposing passage of California SB-142, which they said would restrict the flight of unmanned aerial systems, including drones. Shapiro and Wynne said the bill is an “unnecessary, innovation-stifling and job-killing proposal.” Privacy issues should be addressed, they said. But SB-142 would “open the door to a new class of frivolous lawsuits in California and create inconsistencies with federal law,” they said.