Governance
dlr Drone Data Protection Policy
Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council uses drones for a range of council activities, including emergency services, search and rescue, aerial mapping, and planning enforcement. Because drones can capture images of people, the Council is required to handle that footage responsibly under GDPR and the Data Protection Act 2018.
This policy sets out how the Council does that:
How drones are used: Only for specific, approved purposes. Footage collected is kept to the minimum necessary for the job at hand.
Transparency: When a drone is in operation, temporary signage will be displayed nearby explaining who is operating it and why. Notices may also be posted on the Council's social media channels after drone activity takes place.
Who can access footage: Only designated, trained Council staff, plus An Garda Síochána or legal advisors where legally required. All access is logged.
How long footage is kept: Generally, no longer than 30 days, unless there is a specific operational, legal, or evidential reason to keep it longer.
Your rights: You can request access to any drone footage that includes you. Third-party images in any footage released to you will be blurred to protect others' privacy.
Complaints: If you have concerns about how your data has been handled, you can contact the Council's Data Protection Officer or make a complaint to the Data Protection Commission at www.dataprotection.ie.