Thrill-seeking drone owners and their hackers under threat of jail amid China’s national security fears
- Recent court cases in Fujian and Shanghai end with hackers who were paid to modify UAVs sentenced to jail
- ‘People who are very passionate about drones will certainly be tempted and might take the risk,’ says Beijing computer engineering professor
While most other jurisdictions treat such violations as misdemeanours with fines, in China altering a drone’s limits can incur jail time, as shown in recent court cases.
The alterations may be mostly made for recreational purposes but Beijing views such breaches through the lens of national security.
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Luo Tien, an architect who owns two drones in Beijing, says some vehicle owners hire hackers to unlock digital blocks in their vehicles so they can take them anywhere they want, in most cases for leisure and fun.
“Some people seek thrill and adventure; removing the height restrictions and flying over the limits can sound very tempting,” Luo said.
“It’s not that Beijing has some restrictions; Beijing is all about restrictions. [Drones are] prohibited in the entire urban area of Beijing so you will have to go to [suburbs like] Yanqing or Miyun if you want to fly one.”
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However disabling the flight blocks, the courts have ruled, is against the law and punishable with fines, or even jail terms.
