Soon you’ll have to register drones in China using your real name

Photo by Ed Schipul

China loves real-name registration. Over the past decade, real-name registration systems have come to everything from Weibo to mobile phones to train tickets. Now a new real-name system is reportedly being set up for aerial drones (like the ones at DJI’s new flagship store).

The news was reported by Chinese media outlet Yicai, which spoke with China Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) secretary Ke Yubao. China’s new drone legislation isn’t actually available to the public yet, but Ke, who is familiar with it, told the paper:

In the future drones will be like mobile phones. When you buy a mobile phone, you need to sign up with a telecom operator before you can use it. From now on drones will be the same: you’ll need to register your real name and sign up with a service provider to use one.

Attentive readers may recall that around a month ago, Ke also revealed that China’s new drone legislation will ban drone delivery in urban areas, at least until the technology has become sophisticated enough that Chinese authorities are convinced it can be used safely.

The regulations Ke is referring to in both stories are still in the approval process and have not become law yet, but their eventual formalization seems likely, as they have reportedly already been passed by China’s Civil Aviation Administration.