Muscat: The German government is planning legal amendments that would empower operators of critical infrastructure to defend against drones threatening their facilities, while clearly defining which measures would remain the responsibility of the security authorities.
According to Oman News Agency, a Federal Interior Ministry spokesperson said discussions are focused on determining the measures companies could take independently or with third-party assistance, and separating them from those that should remain the exclusive domain of the state. This would require addressing legal issues involving overlapping federal and state competencies.
The review also aims to improve rules for detecting and countering drones, and to speed up the process of distinguishing between unauthorised and lawfully operated aircraft. Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt has previously expressed his desire to enable operators of critical infrastructure - such as power stations, energy grids, and chemical plants - to take action against threatening drones, noting that this would require completing the legal framework to allow operators to use appropriate countermeasures.
The moves follow incidents of sabotage targeting power grids in Brandenburg and North Rhine-Westphalia, and an attempted arson attack on a site housing defence companies in Munich. An implementing regulation is being prepared for the Critical Infrastructure Protection Act, which took effect on 17 March, to define the facilities covered by the legislation, paving the way for their registration with the Federal Office for Civil Protection and Disaster Assistance and the implementation of required protective measures. The legislation also includes a mandatory reporting requirement for security-related incidents.
